Widening access to Wales’ culture: £550,000 to support museums, archives and libraries projects

The funding, awarded through the Welsh Government’s Enhanced Local Culture Sector Support for Museums, Archives & Libraries Grant Programme, will allow projects to continue their activities to the end of March 2027, building on work that is already underway.

South Wales will see substantial investment across both south-east and south-west, with 10 projects spanning libraries, museums and archives.

• In Blaenau Gwent, the Cultural Library Youth Engagement Partnership will extend the Youth Library Co-ordinator role and expand engagement with under-represented young people.
• Merthyr Tydfil’s Heritage and Herstories Digital Museums Project will broaden school engagement and heritage trails.
• Newport’s Local History Digitisation and Geocaching App will expand its digital content and community engagement, showcasing more of Newport’s diverse local heritage.
• Rhondda Cynon Taff will expand public access to its museum and library collections through website development and new digital content.
• The Vale of Glamorgan will take forward its local Reading Strategy, supporting literacy interventions and Welsh-language initiatives.
• Monmouthshire’s From Vault to View project will expand archive cataloguing, volunteer engagement and public access to its collections.
• Torfaen, on behalf of Gwent Archives and the Archives & Records Council Wales, will deliver remaining engagement and digital legacy activity under the Archifau Cymru Byw programme.
• In Bridgend, the Ogwr Unlocked project will expand cataloguing and heritage interpretation, building on investment to date.
• Further west, Swansea’s natural history collections will be brought to life through new art-based workshops delivered with the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery.
• Neath Port Talbot will extend its pop-up museum programme with a new digital heritage platform and expanded community engagement activity.

Heledd Fychan, Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport, said:

“Museums, archives and libraries are at the heart of our communities, connecting people with their history, their culture and each other. This funding will allow projects right across Wales to build on the fantastic progress they’ve already made, reaching more people, in more places, with the stories that matter to them.

“I want to thank all the organisations who have worked with us to develop these projects. Their continued commitment to engaging communities, protecting our heritage and widening access to culture is making a real difference, and I’m pleased we’re able to support them to extend this vital work through to March next year.”

Annabelle Dennis, Project Manager at Herstories in Merthyr Tydfil, said:

“Herstories is just the beginning. By combining the Herstories website with our immersive museum installation, that brings women’s portraits and stories to life, we have created a platform that both inspires engagement and preserves history. While visitors can connect with these remarkable women through the immersive experience, the website serves as a lasting digital archive that can continue to grow as new stories are uncovered and shared.

“Together, they ensure that the voices of women from Merthyr Tydfil are not only heard today, but preserved for future generations, so that those who have been overlooked by history are recognised, remembered and never forgotten.”