The chief executive of Amgueddfa Cymru has admitted that the National Museum Cardiff will have to close for repairs, with the timing being "a question of when, not if." Politicians have described the potential indefinite closure as a "significant concern," warning that the museum is at "breaking point."
Building 'completely and totally failing'
In October, Amgueddfa Cymru bosses appeared before the Senedd's culture committee and stated that the museum building is "completely and totally failing." Chief executive Jane Richardson told Senedd members that they are "regularly" having to decide whether they can open the next day, due to the frequency of leaks and flooding at the National Museum.
Richardson said: "It is not going to be possible to keep that building open indefinitely. The closure is a question of when, not if. We want to do it in a planned way and we want it to be temporary."
She added: "The building is deteriorating more quickly than we can repair it. This calendar year alone we have had 10 incidents of leaks/floods. The latest was over the weekend we've just had. We are regularly in a position where we have to work out if we can open the next day because of those issues."
£46m cost of critical works
Asked about the national museum, Richardson said they need to split "immediate critical works" from transformation plans, as the cost of critical works alone is £46m.
Following the meeting on October 19, the joint chairs of the Senedd's culture committee, Plaid Cymru MSs Lis McLean and Mair Rowlands, wrote to the Welsh Government's culture minister, Heledd Fychan, expressing a "number of concerns."
They wrote: "We were alarmed to learn that the large maintenance backlog means that the question is no longer whether National Museum Cardiff may need to close but when such a closure becomes necessary. The prospect of the nation's flagship museum, at the heart of our capital city, closing its doors for an indefinite period is of significant concern.
"It raises profound questions about the future of one of Wales's most important cultural institutions, the safeguarding of its national collections and public access to them."
St David's Hall concerns
The committee expressed concern about the uncertainty regarding the funding needed to support the museum's redevelopment and long-term sustainability. They stated: "We appreciate the need to develop realistic plans to address the substantial issues the institution faces, however, we consider it essential that an agreed approach is finalised as soon as is practical."
They also raised the impact of the continued closure of St David's Hall, saying the "prospect of two major cultural institutions in the capital being closed simultaneously, with no certainty over their futures, is deeply troubling."
In a separate letter, they asked Cardiff council for an update on St David's Hall, which has been closed since September 2023. They noted that while an update is due in December, they would like to know "the current status of the project, any significant milestones achieved to date, and the anticipated timetable for reopening to the public."
The committee stated: "We are concerned about the ongoing risks surrounding major cultural venues in the capital and the potential impact this could have on public access to culture, the visitor economy, and Cardiff's position as a cultural destination."
