Cardiff’s National Museum closing is ‘realistic’ option, says boss

Richardson said if the National Museum Wales also closes, culture in Wales would not suffer a result.

“Culture isn’t about what you keep inside four walls, culture is a living dynamic thing,” she said.

“What’s important about this museum is the amazing collection… it doesn’t have to be all about these four walls so we can take that collection out and about.”

In Llanberis staff have created a “museum on the move”, operating out of three other sites in partnership with organisations, while also taking parts of the collection to events.

A business case is due to be presented to the Welsh government in the autumn but the PCS, which represents 188 employees, said its main concern was job security.

“Our members tell us time and again that the biggest concern is the uncertainty,” Sian Boyles from the union said.

“They don’t know if the museum is closing, they don’t know how long the museum is going to be closed for, they don’t know what that means.

“Will they have a job to come back to?”

The PCS said it had not yet seen any details on the proposals.

“We want the museum to thrive but that has to be done with our staff and not to them,” Boyles added.

Richardson said there were “lots of options” being considered including new roles as a result of the ongoing work, and that “staff will always be the first to hear what’s going to happen”.

The Welsh government said: “The maintenance backlog at National Museum Cardiff shows the critical situation this government has inherited with regards to Wales’ cultural assets.

“Any decisions about National Museum Cardiff can only be made once a full and robust business case has been developed by Amgueddfa Cymru, rigorously assessed and formally approved through the appropriate processes.

“This will ensure the proposals are deliverable, affordable and that all of the necessary funding is in place.”