PRESS RELEASE
30 September 2014
Get ready to ‘Be Amazed’ Welsh Museums Festival
Museums across Wales are getting ready to celebrate the first ever Welsh Museums
Festival, which will run from 4-12 October. The Festival coincides with the Museums
Association Conference which takes place 9-10 October at the Wales Millennium
Centre, Cardiff.
Participating museums will have a range of events and exhibitions suitable for all
ages, including exclusive behind the scenes access to collections, talks, walks, trails,
and workshops. People can find out what events are taking place in their local area
by visiting welshmuseums.co.uk. The majority of events will be free.
David Anderson, Director General of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales
and President of the Museums Association said “The Welsh Museums Festival
provides an important platform for museums to promote the quality and the breadth
of the collections, and the work being done by the sector in every corner of Wales.
The MA conference will form an important part of the celebrations, and I’m
personally delighted that Welsh Museums will have the opportunity to showcase the
work that has been undertaken since the conference last came to Wales in 1997.
“Museums are more than just a collection of buildings and objects. They provide
people with affordable, inspiring and uplifting things to do and places to go, on their
own or with their families and friends, which can help improve their quality of life. I
would like to urge as many people as possible to visit a museum during the course of
the Festival, and discover or rediscover all that is on offer.”
Ken Skates, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism commented, “Museums
are an integral part of our communities in Wales. As well as serving local people,
they also contribute to the economy through tourism. I am delighted to support the
Welsh Museums Festival and would encourage everyone to take the opportunity to
visit their local museum.”
Rachael Rogers, President of The Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of
Wales added “As the strategic body for museum and art gallery professionals in
Wales, we are pleased to be involved in the festival. It will offer an opportunity for our
members to raise their profile amongst fellow professionals across the sector. We
hope that everyone will take advantage of this chance and will build on these
opportunities in the future.”
There will be a social media campaign to encourage visitors to share via Twitter their
favourite museums, memories, stories and photos using the hashtags
#welshmuseumsfest and #gwylamgueddfeydd. For more information please visit
welshmuseums.co.uk or @welshmuseums.
Editor’s Notes
For further information, please contact:
Nicola Williams
nicola.williams@wrexham.gov.uk
01978 722988
Wrexham County Borough Council has been selected by CyMAL: Museums
Archives and Libraries Wales, Welsh Government to receive a grant to deliver the
Museums Marketing Strategy for Wales 2013-2016.
CyMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales is a policy division of the Welsh
Government, based in Aberystwyth and is responsible for developing policy for local
museums, archives and libraries in Wales and advising the Deputy Minister for
Culture, Sport and Tourism.
The Festival is also supported by the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of
Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.
Facts & Figures
•
Visits to Museums increased by 9% between 2006 and 2010 to over 3.8
million
•
Number of accredited museums: 94
•
Local community groups use museum services 4843 times a year
•
Number of volunteers: 2118
•
Museums in Wales care for approximately 5,500,000 items
•
Half the museums in Wales provide free entry
•
Swansea museum, founded in 1841, is the oldest museum in Wales
•
With 544,768 visitors last year, St Fagan’s is the most visited museum in
Wales
Key Messages
•
Museums empower people through learning, participation and inspiration
•
Museum and their collections strengthen community identity
•
Museums make a significant economic contribution through tourism and
regeneration
•
Museums offer uplifting, enjoyable and thought provoking experiences
•
Wherever you are in Wales, there is a museum for you.