Council proposes making Museum of Cardiff a ‘mobile attraction’

Cardiff Council is considering turning the Museum of Cardiff into a mobile attraction as part of a consultation into its 2023/24 budget.

The move would result in the loss of the museum’s current building and most of its staff.

Cardiff residents will be asked to vote on the proposal to “take the museum out of the Old Library and make it a mobile attraction” – which the council says would save £266,000 a year – as part of a public consultation opening tomorrow (23 December).

The consultation proposes moving the museum’s displays and activities around Cardiff, with the museum retaining “a small key team” to continue with community engagement and care of the collection.

If plans to mobilise the museum go ahead, the consultation adds the museum could return to a permanent fixture “if a suitable location was found and funding secured”.

Members of the museum and heritage sector have criticised the plans. Community-based organisation Heritage & Cultural Exchange said “a closure or moving to virtual museum would be a tragedy”.

Museums Association Director Sharon Heal says it’s “a real shame the council has chosen to consult on closing Cardiff Museum”.

“We know that local authorities are facing a tough time and finding it difficult to make ends meet, however closing a much-loved local museum is not going to solve the council’s financial woes.

“Cardiff Museum is award-winning and its staff have worked with communities across the city and surrounding area to make sure that diverse stories are captured for future generations.”

“To take that away is short sighted and will mean a vital part of Cardiff’s cultural landscape and the story of the nation’s capital is missing.”