Latest news with #AmgueddfaCymru
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- South Wales Argus
Is there a charge to visit Big Pit museum in Blaenavon?
Run by ex-miners, the site located in Blaenavon first opened back in 1983 and operated independently until it became part of Amgueddfa Cymru. Its cultural purpose, of course, is to educate visitors about the lives of miners who worked there. Now the museum has started charging people for the famous underground tour. The grounds of Big Pit National Coal Museum (Image: NQ) From April 2025 to Summer 2026, a trial has been launched with tickets at £8 per person. Tickets for the tour also must be booked in advance. However, there is an on the day option which is limited depending on availability for a fee of £5. The controversial idea to start charging people has been met with mixed reviews. Speaking at a Senedd Committee earlier this month (June 6) Delyth Jewell MS, Chair of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee, said: 'Free entry to national museums has been a successful policy and we want to see it continue – as a matter of principle, no one should have to pay to enjoy collections that belong to the people of Wales. 'As the custodians of our nation's history, the Welsh Government has a responsibility to fund our national institutions adequately.' Inside Big Pit National Coal Museum (Image: NQ) Around 150,000 visitors descend on the location each year to experience the world-famous underground tour. The immersive museum has been a childhood cultural staple for many people in the area and attracts visitors from far and wide. Here's how these visitors on site reacted to the news of increased fees. Teacher Steven Hurst at Big Pit National Coal Museum (Image: NQ) Steven Hurst, 39, is a teacher from Chepstow. He was at the site on a school trip. Steven commented that funding could be an issue. He said: 'A lot of funding has disappeared from these spaces and it's necessary to keep this heritage alive. 'It's a bit disappointing because heritage and history should be free for all. 'Especially people in Wales who have grown up with these things. 'I came here as a kid, and to see these things increasing in price it's quite disappointing.' Visitor David Bernntto at Big Pit National Coal Museum (Image: NQ) David Bernotto, aged 72, was surprised by the fact fees had been introduced. He said: 'I was a little bit surprised, but they've had their funding cut by the Welsh government and if they want to keep going, they've got to do something.' He added: "For children I think it should be free. 'To be fair I think but it's a brilliant day out and there's tonnes here to see so it's really worth a visit.' Last year alone Amgueddfa Cymru's revenue was cut by 6%. This cut was part of broader reductions in public funding for cultural services in Wales. The museum described this as the "biggest cuts to Amgueddfa Cymru's budget ever.' Husband and wife Pat Bradbury and Marie Bradbury at Big Pit National Coal Museum (Image: NQ) Husband and wife Pat Bradbury 84, and Marie Bradbury 74, were on holiday in Wales. Originally from Cornwall the couple argued it was worth the fee. Pat said: 'Compared to some other exhibitions in the UK that you can go around and tends to be much more expensive this seems okay. 'It was very interesting.' Marie added: 'You learn about what a hard life the miners had, and I think it's very reasonable price for the tour we had today.' Visitor Ralph Davey at Big Pit National Coal Museum (Image: NQ) Ralph Davey aged 80, said: 'I think for the tour it's fair because you've got to employ people without it you wouldn't get footfall.' An Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales spokesperson said: 'We look forward to continuing to work with Welsh Government as they consider the findings and recommendations of this report. 'The current trial is likely to run until summer 2026.'
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
The man changing the face of Wales' museums
The man changing the face of Wales' museums From once being reluctant to even tell his colleagues he was gay, Mark set about transforming the museum's collection in 2019 when he realised a huge part of Wales' population wasn't being represented In doing so he's uncovered thousands of previously untold stories and changed the face of the museum's collection, making it more representative of Wales' modern society. (Image: John Myers ) Curator Mark Etheridge's favourite artefact in his LGBTQ+ Amgueddfa Cymru collection is a sign from the pub where he came out as gay as a young man. It is from the old King's Cross in Cardiff city centre which was a gay venue from the early seventies until its closure in 2011 - at the time making it Wales' oldest gay bar. 'It's my favourite item in the collection because I have that personal connection there and I think our collections are important from that perspective,' Mark says from the national living museum at St Fagans. It is there that the curator specialises in underrepresented communities and in particular LGBTQ+ history has spent the last six years on something of a personal pilgrimage around Wales collecting 2,300 artefacts depicting the lives of queer Welsh people, and he's not stopping there. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here In doing so he's uncovered thousands of previously untold stories and changed the face of the museum's collection, making it more representative of Wales' modern society. For his work on the collection which can be found online and across the museum sites including at St Fagans, Mark has been named in the top three in this year's annual WalesOnline Pinc List recognising some of Wales' most influential LGBTQ+ people. The King's Cross sign is important to him as a sign of community which helped him at a tricky stage of his life. 'I remember going to the first Cardiff Pride in 1999 still not out to people at work,' he recalls. 'I remember being apprehensive. I remember going into my favourite gay bars in Cardiff - the King's Cross and the Golden - quite nervous about who would see me in there and whether they'd recognise me from my normal life.' From once being reluctant to even tell his colleagues he was gay, Mark set about transforming the museum's collection in 2019 when he realised a huge part of Wales' population wasn't being represented. Article continues below In the collection are pictures of the protests against section 28 in Wales, Wales' first mardi gras, and Western Mail archive photographs of the first pride march through Cardiff 40 years ago (Image: John Myers ) 'I suppose I sort of pushed myself into it by starting to collect what I could. I had done a bit of work around Black history and I realised broadly the museums weren't as representative of Welsh society as we should be. I started to think: 'What gaps do we have in the collection? Whose stories aren't we telling?' The museum was really supportive of focusing more on telling stories of the lives of LGBT+ people.' Items in the collection at St Fagans and held at the museums' storage centre in Nantgarw include changes in 2021 to the ban on gay and bisexual men being allowed to donate blood, the Church in Wales bill which allowed same-sex marriage and civil partnerships to be blessed in September 2021, an order of service for two gay men who had their marriage blessed on the same day, and artefacts from recent inaugural pride events from Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly and Flint. Also in the collection are pictures of the protests against section 28 in Wales, Wales' first mardi gras, and Western Mail archive photographs of the first pride march through Cardiff 40 years ago which has this week been recognised with an ITV Wales documentary called Proud. 'We're up to now about 2,300 objects within LGBT+ collection whereas when I started we only had a handful,' Mark says. 'We can't display everything we've got so by digitising and putting it onto the website it means that there's a permanent visibility for the whole collection online.' Western Mail archive image of the first every pride march through Cardiff in June 1985 The first Cardiff gay pride march is celebrated in the collection. This week the 40th anniversary of the march has been recognised (Image: Mirrorpix ) 'It is challenging because some of the items in the collection are very ephemeral,' Mark explains, showing badges from the first march from Cardiff Gay Liberation Front and the Campaign for Homosexual Equality. 'Very few people would have been members of these groups at the time so to get things like badges which have survived to this day is pretty unique.' He tells of how being a curator focusing on LGBTQ+ history can be difficult because so much of queer history has been erased. He's almost starting from scratch and trying to document moments from the present day which he believes will prove to be important stories to tell in the future. 'It's kind of about getting the message out there and taking people on this journey with us, to tell them that their stories and their lives now are so important and should be documented for future generations,' he says. 'That could be if they were members of a protest, for example. As people pass away or clear out the house people might just chuck these pieces like placards or banners in the bin. "Take the recent trans rights protests we've seen in Wales. It's important that it is remembered and the struggle for trans people is recognised. So I have found it's crucial someone is very deliberately visible and saying: 'Please don't chuck your placards or badges away. They could be really powerful symbols of inspiration in the future.' 'It doesn't have to be just protests though. That's something I'm quite keen for the displays to show - that it isn't just about activism in terms of protesting and pride but that there are lots of stories about LGBT+ people just living their everyday lives in Wales openly. That's powerful activism in itself.' The collection also celebrates the lives of gay couple Reg Mickisch and George Walton which was told by Mike Parker in his book titled On the Red Hill (Image: Mike Parker ) Reg (right) and George (left) at the beach in the 50s (Image: Mike Parker ) The collection also celebrates the lives of Reg Mickisch and George Walton, a gay couple who lived through the Second World War and both died having lived their later years at an idyllic house named Rhiw Goch just outside of Machynlleth. The story is told by their friend Mike Parker, who they left Rhiw Goch to, in a book called On the Red Hill which you can read about here. 'I think Reg and George are a perfect example of that,' Mark says. 'As them living their everyday lives together during a time when it was illegal is a form of activism in itself. Being visible is everything. 'What was also special about the Reg and George story was that they lived very rural lives which is something often not depicted in queer history. So much of Wales is rural and it's crucial that in our collection we show the lives of queer rural living. Historically LGBT+ people have often moved to the big cities but many have also built their lives in rural areas and their stories shouldn't be forgotten. 'The difficulty can sometimes be making those connections, especially rurally. I went to the first Powys Pride in Llanrindod Wells and it was fantastic. Sometimes when I ask for things to recognise the events people worry their items aren't expensive or historic enough, but that's really not what's important. "It also doesn't matter if only a few people attend these pride events in smaller rural villages. What's important is recognising the fact they're happening and to celebrate being unapologetically yourself within the community in which you live.' Memorabilia belonging to Howard Llewellyn who set up the Cardiff Gay Liberation Front in 1971 (Image: Adrian White ) A badge from the Cardiff Gay Liberation Front which was worn during the first march in 1985 in Cardiff (Image: Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales ) He is proud of how much the museum has achieved in creating the collection so far, but feels there is still further to go. 'Sometimes I wonder why it has taken so long to achieve such a collection in Wales but I wonder if that's a little bit about what the community is about itself," he says. "Why has it taken until 2019 for LGBT+ events to be part of the national Eisteddfod or to be part of the Urdd? Why is it only in very recent years we've had our first pride event in a big Welsh city like Newport? We're making significant progress in lots of ways and I think the collection is a bit of a reflection of that really. Curators can't create history. They're vehicles for the people we tell stories of.' Article continues below
South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Gwen John exhibition to open at National Museum Cardiff
Gwen John: Strange Beauties will launch at National Museum Cardiff on February 7, 2026, marking 150 years since the birth of the Haverfordwest-born painter. Dr Kath Davies, director of collections and research at Amgueddfa Cymru, said: "As an independent woman living and working as an artist in the early 20th century, Gwen John was a trailblazer. "Many of her drawings and studio works have never been exhibited before and this major new exhibition will be an opportunity to explore John's technical approach, processes, and the themes which influenced and inspired her." The exhibition is the first major retrospective of Gwen John's work in more than 40 years and will later tour internationally. It is organised by Amgueddfa Cymru in partnership with the National Galleries of Scotland, the Yale Center for British Art, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Business News Wales
04-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Senedd Committee Calls for an End to Charges for Big Pit Underground Tours
Access to Wales' coal mining history should not be put behind a paywall, according to a Senedd Committee. The Culture Committee's report on charging for exhibitions asks the Welsh Government to fund Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales enough so that that underground tours at Big Pit National Coal Museum can be free of charge. A charging trial in place since April set the ticket price at £8 per person – or cheaper on the day or with concessions. It follows the Committee's previous report which showed that, after a decade of funding cuts, Wales spent the second smallest amount per person on culture compared with other European nations. Delyth Jewell MS, Chair of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee, said: 'Free entry to national museums has been a successful policy and we want to see it continue – as a matter of principle, no one should have to pay to enjoy collections that belong to the people of Wales. 'As the custodians of our nation's history, the Welsh Government has a responsibility to fund our national institutions adequately so that they can afford to provide free entry to everyone. 'But it has not been meeting this responsibility. 'Over a decade, the Welsh Government has cut public funding for culture in Wales to the extent that it's one of the lowest levels in Europe. Ministers even made suggestions that charging for entry to museums was 'on the table'. 'There have been some welcome increases for culture in the latest budget, but it does not obscure the real terms cut in funding the sector has had to endure, and the Welsh Government is yet to find a way to provide sustainable funding that recognises the worth of our culture.' Big Pit National Coal Museum in Blaenavon, Torfaen, is one of Amgueddfa Cymru's seven museums. It offers underground tours led by former miners so visitors can explore the original mine shafts and machinery. From April 2025 to July 2026, tickets for the underground tour at Big Pit must be purchased in advance for £8 per person. Limited tickets are available on the day for £5. Concession tickets are available without the need for evidence to be shown. The Committee notes that most visitors were happy with the amount they paid – but as a matter of principle, it recommends that underground tours should remain free of charge. The report made another four recommendations, including that income from temporary exhibitions should not replace the need for adequate public funding for museums, and that the Welsh Government should explore ways of helping organisations host more temporary exhibitions to improve the range of exhibitions on offer.
Wales Online
04-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Charging for tours at Big Pit National Coal Museum is 'wrong'
Charging for tours at Big Pit National Coal Museum is 'wrong' A report has criticised the new admission fee for underground tours at Big Pit in Blaenavon and calls on the Welsh Government to better fund our museums Amgueddfa Cymru has recently introduced admission fees for underground tours at Big Pit (Image: David Williams/WALES NEWS SERVICE ) It is wrong to charge people to enter the Big Pit National Coal Museum, according to a Senedd committee. A charging trial which began in April set the ticket price for underground tours at £8 per person, with some concessions, until July 2026. However, the culture committee's report on charging for exhibitions asks the Welsh Government to fund Amgueddfa Cymru enough so that underground tours at Big Pit in Blaenavon, Torfaen, can be free of charge. It argues that access should remain free in principle and calls for better government funding for Welsh museums. The committee argued that the underground tours which the fee has been introduced for are not an optional extra or a luxury, but is a fundamental part of the Big Pit museum. It comes after a previous report by the committee which showed that, after a decade of funding cuts, Wales was the second poorest nation in Europe in terms of spending per person on culture. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Delyth Jewell MS, chair of the culture committee said: "Free entry to national museums has been a successful policy and we want to see it continue – as a matter of principle, no one should have to pay to enjoy collections that belong to the people of Wales. "As the custodians of our nation's history, the Welsh Government has a responsibility to fund our national institutions adequately so that they can afford to provide free entry to everyone. But it has not been meeting this responsibility. Article continues below "Over a decade, the Welsh Government has cut public funding for culture in Wales to the extent that it's one of the lowest levels in Europe. Ministers even made suggestions that charging for entry to museums was 'on the table'. "There have been some welcome increases for culture in the latest budget, but it does not obscure the real terms cut in funding the sector has had to endure, and the Welsh Government is yet to find a way to provide sustainable funding that recognises the worth of our culture." Big Pit National Coal Museum in Blaenavon, Torfaen, is one of Amgueddfa Cymru's seven museums. It offers underground tours led by former miners so visitors can explore the original mine shafts and machinery. Article continues below The committee notes that Amgueddfa Cymru said most visitors were happy with the amount they paid – but as a matter of principle, recommend that underground tours should remain free of charge. The report made another four recommendations, including that income from temporary exhibitions should not replace the need for adequate public funding for museums, and that the Welsh Government should explore ways of helping organisations host more temporary exhibitions to improve the range of exhibitions on offer.
