What next for the #Cardiff Story?
Cardiff Civic Society warmly welcomes Cardiff council’s decision not to close the Cardiff Museum (also known as the Cardiff Story). Speaking at a committee meeting, Prof Jane Henderson outlined plans to secure the future for the exhibition
Cardiff Civic Society Presentation to the Economy & Culture Scrutiny Committee
Tuesday, 28th February 2023 on the presentation of the petition to save Cardiff Museum. Given by Professor Jane Henderson specifically to Cllr Jen Burke and Neil Hanratty and the full committee
“The petition was to save the Cardiff museum and I would like to start by thanking you for listening. I think it is important that when people put out a proposal and listen to the answers, that we don't see it as a negative thing when people change their mind, we see it as a positive thing and I wish that the media coverage had been more toned in that way.
In listening to the voices that I heard raised in defence of the Cardiff Museum some of the most powerful voices that I heard were people who spoke about their own individual circumstances of how the existence of the museum meant that they were able to leave the house at all. That their relationship that they built up with the museum meant that they had the confidence to engage with society and this was their main reason for leaving the house. I also heard from people who came to the museum as current day refugees coming to Cardiff who found an affinity with people whose refugee stories were told in the museum of Cardiff. And of course, we heard from a group of lads from Butetown who had come into the museum saying that ‘we never thought we would see ourselves In a place like this’, because they were represented in the current temporary exhibition. These are the stories of the people of Cardiff and sometimes it is worth saying that one person’s experience is verry very valuable.
We also know though the museums has had declining numbers and it is important to address that. There has been a permanent issue with a lack of signage in the area, the museum has seen a reduction in space and opportunities over the years and of course the displays have not been regenerated for more than 10 years now and as far as I am aware there are no plans to do that.
To my mind we do need to plan and that is what I would like to pitch to you. To make good plans we need to talk, to talk, consult and listen like we have already done but perhaps involve other people, stakeholders, experts, earlier in the process so that we can make decisions that work for all of us. I would say that heritage funders will absolutely look to see that you have consultation-led proposals rather than proposals that have been put to consultation.
I don’t know your constraints and restrictions but there might be a range of choices for the future of the museum including:
Staying in the old library and building synergies with the Royal Welsh College of Museum and Drama. Why not make it a live museum with drama in the galleries?
You might want to move into an existing space (owned by the council) although there may be more challenges in that than first appears.
Or perhaps look at a new space, perhaps in partnership with Welsh Government
I would encourage you to start those conversations now. Looking at the way that Wrexham, Swansea and Newport are using their museums to re-energise their city centres and to be part of regeneration packages I know that you are looking at culture and development and I would encourage you to look beyond an inner group and bring in all those voices, all those stakeholders represented in the consultation. Thank you.”