Museum Wales and Wrexham University to bring national art and culture collections to north Wales communities

Wrexham University has joined forces with the Museum Wales group (Amgueddfa Cymru) to increase access to Welsh art collections for communities across north Wales. 

As it stands, of the seven museums in the Museum Wales collection, only one is in North Wales (Llanberis National Slate Museum), making it harder for people in the area to enjoy the country’s national collections.  

To increase access for people in north Wales, Museum Wales and Wrexham University have created a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that agrees to work together to create more opportunities for collections to be seen by local communities in the future.  

In practice, this could include: 

• Bringing museum collections, exhibitions and artefacts into community settings, schools and public venues. 
• Working with together on travelling exhibitions and outreach activity linked to national collections. 
• Supporting community storytelling, heritage and participation projects that help people connect with local history, culture and identity. 
• Exploring opportunities for exhibitions, artefacts and cultural activity to be hosted within the University and community spaces in the future. 

Nina Ruddle, Head of Public Policy Engagement at Wrexham University, said: “Many communities, schools and families across north east Wales do not have easy access to Wales’s national collections and cultural experiences. The partnership with Museum Wales therefore creates an opportunity to explore how culture, heritage and collections can be brought directly into communities, schools and public spaces, rather than expecting communities to travel to museum sites. 

“Wrexham University brings expertise in community engagement, research, evaluation and place-based working, whilst Museum Wales brings cultural leadership, collections, expertise and national reach.” 

Professor Joe Yates, Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham University, said: “This MoU presents a powerful opportunity for cross-sector collaboration that puts culture, communities and access at its heart. By working with Museum Wales, we can help bring national collections and expertise directly into communities across north Wales, widening participation and strengthening cultural engagement across the region. 

“The MoU will also support closer collaboration on research, evidence, and impact. This includes joint research activity, data-informed approaches to measuring impact, and exploring the potential for shared research structures that respond to the needs of partners and communities across north Wales. 

“With research underpinning our collaborative approach, we are committed to delivering tangible, measurable impact that supports wellbeing, creativity and opportunity. This partnership aligns closely with our vision to be a world leading modern civic university and our ambition to be a beacon university for Wales - working in partnership to deliver lasting benefits for current and future generations.” 

Jane Richardson, Chief Executive of Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, added: “Amgueddfa Cymru belongs to everyone and it’s important that we are a truly national museum with sites across Wales to share our history and heritage. This MoU shows our commitment to ensuring the national collection can be enjoyed in communities across north Wales.  

“While the transformational redevelopment of the National Slate Museum in Llanberis will secure the future of the slate industry’s global story, this partnership with Wrexham University will further enhance cultural engagement and participation in the region, allowing people to interpret the national collection in new ways, make connections, and create immersive experiences which tell the story of Cymru.”