91�ȱ�

An extra £3.2m for emergency repairs at the national museum and the National Library of Wales "won't go far enough", believes Amgueddfa Cymru Chairwoman Kate Eden.

In announcing the funding, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice Lesley Griffiths said: “It is a very small amount. I fully appreciate that, but that’s all I can find this year."

She also described it as "horrific" seeing lots of buckets to collect rain water at the national museum in Cardiff.

Ms Eden of Amgueddfa Cymru - which looks after museums in Wales - agreed it was "a small amount".

An estimated £25m is needed for critical urgent repairs to the National Museum building, but Ms Eden called it "a positive step".

Ms Eden said: “The money won’t go far enough. But it will allow us to get the technical expertise to put that business case together, to make some immediate emergency improvements, and improve accessibility.”

The museum, which is over 100 years old, has a leaking roof which means paintings have to be removed from top floor rooms and stored elsewhere during heavy rainfall.

Speaking to a Senedd committee about a previous visit, Ms Griffiths said: "I have never seen so many buckets catching water. It was horrific."

She also told the culture committee that "significant millions were needed to fully repair" the museum's roof.

Ms Griffiths said: "I’ve reprioritised my budget to find that funding. Talking to the staff here it absolutely will help get those urgent repairs done this year but I fully appreciate in the long-term we’re going to need significant funding here.”

She said the money had been found by scrapping plans for a museum of north Wales and an anchor site for the National Contemporary Art Gallery scheme, which is currently spread across nine art galleries.

"We can’t have a new building when we’ve got iconic buildings like this that need funding," she said.

Asked if she thought people in north Wales would feel "let down", she said: "No, I don't think so. I'm from north Wales and I don't feel that at all."

She said the National Slate Museum in Llanberis, Gwyedd, had already received "significant funding" to improve it, with renovations expected to close it for a year from November 2024.

In December 2023 Museum Wales and the National Library in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, were notified of a 10.5% a reduction in their funding - the biggest cut in their history.

In April Museum Wales chief executive Jane Richardson said "at least 90 jobs" would have to be cut, but an exact figure has not been announced while the consultation is ongoing.

In total the seven Amgueddfa Cymru museums need an estimated £90m in total towards repairs and improvements.

The other sites include the St Fagans National Museum of History, Big Pit Coalmine in Blaenavon, National Waterfront Museum in Swansea, National Wool Museum near Llandysul and the National Roman Legion Museum in Caerleon, Newport.

National Library of Wales chief executive, Rhodri Llwyd Morgan said this money will go towards essential renovations to the National Library building in Aberystwyth.

“The national collection that is kept here is a treasure that belongs to the nation and the funding will enable works that are much needed," he said.

"Completing these works will mean that the collections are safe in the long-term and will ensure access to them for future generations.”

A further £500,000 funding will go towards independent museums and archives across Wales.