National Museum Cardiff closure for repairs not ruled out by culture minister

Wales' culture minister says she is working with Museum Wales on the future of its century-old Cardiff site that has a repair backlog in the tens of millions of pounds.

In an interview with BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Heledd Fychan did not rule out a prolonged closure for National Museum Cardiff which she said would not be unusual.

She accused the previous Labour Welsh government of leaving the museum, first opened to the public in 1922, without a plan for its future.

The museum's chief executive, Jane Richardson, has said that shutting the site for repairs was a potential option, but no final decision had been made.

National Museum Cardiff has a maintenance backlog of £42.6m, of which £13m is said to be urgently needed.

Richardson told the BBC last month that the survival of the building is a "mini miracle".

Asked if she was prepared to see the museum close, Heledd Fychan told BBC Radio Wales: "We are investing in this financial year to help support National Museum Cardiff and some of the urgent works required.

"But we're working in partnership with Amgueddfa Cymru [Museum Wales] to truly understand what investment is needed, also to understand the security of the national collections.

"It is a serious situation. I can't believe we're at this point now where I've inherited a situation where there is no plan, there's no certainty in terms of the future of one of the most iconic and important buildings in Wales."

Pressed again on whether a prolonged closure was required, Fychan added: "Currently the National Slate Museum is closed whilst that redevelopment takes place.

"It will be a matter for Amgueddfa Cymru, at the end of the day, to bring forward proposals and to truly understand what is needed there.

"But it's not unusual for large projects."

Fychan said ministers are trying to understand "what else is at risk of closure" across Wales.

The Welsh government has previously said it had allocated up to £4.8m to "support the most urgent improvement works and help protect our nation's national collections".

The culture minister spoke ahead of the launch, at the National Eisteddfod in Pembrokeshire, of a consultation to build a ten-year culture and sport strategy.

The Welsh government is calling for evidence as it draws up the plan, which ministers hope will make Wales a culture and sport powerhouse.

Asked whether Plaid Cymru should have arrived in office with a plan to tackle challenges in the arts and culture sector, Fychan said: "It is in crisis, but it is not my role to dictate what that future looks like."

"We need the data as well to understand the seriousness of the situation.

"It's not my role to say what the future of culture and sports are in Wales, it's up to the people of Wales to decide."

Fychan has promised to increase culture spending "year-on-year".

Welsh Labour, which led the Welsh government before Plaid Cymru's Senedd election victory in May, was asked for comment.