£6.5m funding package “a fresh start for culture in Wales”
Following months of FDA campaigning and lobbying Senedd Members to secure the future of the National Library of Wales and National Museum of Wales, the Welsh Government has today announced a £6.5m funding package over financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22.
The package provides the Library with £2.25m and the Museum with £3.95m. The funding for the Library also includes £0.75m to accelerate the implementation of the findings of the recent Tailored Review.
Responding to the announcement, FDA Cymru|Wales National Officer Gareth Hills said:
“Today feels like a fresh start for culture in Wales. This is a fantastic outcome for our campaign. Since submitting evidence to the Senedd’s culture committee in August last year, FDA Cymru|Wales, along with our sister unions Prospect and PCS, has mounted a consistent campaign calling on Welsh Government to introduce a new, sustainable funding model.
“While COVID-19 has exacerbated financial problems, we have been clear that the structural deficits in both institutions have been caused by years of under-funding. The two-year package is very good news and protects jobs across the breadth and depth of Wales. However, the Tailored Review was clear that the current funding position of the Library is not sustainable. The same is true for the Museum.
“If the Welsh Government is serious about securing the financial stability and sustainability of these institutions then it must now commit to embedding this additional funding into future baseline Grant-In-Aid contributions for both the Museum and Library.”
The package provides the Library with £2.25m and the Museum with £3.95m. The funding for the Library also includes £0.75m to accelerate the implementation of the findings of the recent Tailored Review.
Responding to the announcement, FDA Cymru|Wales National Officer Gareth Hills said:
“Today feels like a fresh start for culture in Wales. This is a fantastic outcome for our campaign. Since submitting evidence to the Senedd’s culture committee in August last year, FDA Cymru|Wales, along with our sister unions Prospect and PCS, has mounted a consistent campaign calling on Welsh Government to introduce a new, sustainable funding model.
“While COVID-19 has exacerbated financial problems, we have been clear that the structural deficits in both institutions have been caused by years of under-funding. The two-year package is very good news and protects jobs across the breadth and depth of Wales. However, the Tailored Review was clear that the current funding position of the Library is not sustainable. The same is true for the Museum.
“If the Welsh Government is serious about securing the financial stability and sustainability of these institutions then it must now commit to embedding this additional funding into future baseline Grant-In-Aid contributions for both the Museum and Library.”
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