Vision Update
PREPARED FOR BOARD OF TRUSTEES
April 2011
Purpose
To update the Board and staff on progress and achievements in key Vision Map
areas in December, January, February and March and the key tasks and targets for
April, May and June.
Amgueddfa Cymru’s Vision Map
1
1. Developing our world – class museum spaces
Upper West Wing
Handover of the West Wing Galleries for recent and contemporary art took place in
February 2011. Works have been selected, loans requested and all text written for
the initial changing display in these galleries which will open in July 2011. These new
galleries are now among the best equipped spaces for contemporary art in the UK.
In the meantime, the temporary exhibition ‘Lifetime to legacy: Highlights of the Derek
Williams Collection’ has been installed in Galleries 19, 20 and 21 and opened on
23rd March.
Natural History Museum
Work on the Insight Gallery by BioSyB and Geology staff is nearing completion.
Using a modular approach, the gallery highlights the research and collection activity
being undertaken by staff behind the scenes, which is otherwise unexplained to the
general public audience. The first round of modules will highlight eight research and
collection topics.
The cleaning and refreshment of the lower natural history galleries began this
quarter and this includes the cleaning of all the many specimens and dioramas,
replacement of damaged specimens, and the collection and preservation of a fresh
selection of seaweeds for the coastal diorama. The gallery is being painted, re-
carpeted and the lighting upgraded.
Making History at St Fagans
On the advice of the Heritage Lottery Fund it has been decided to extend the
timetable for submission of the Round II bid from September 2011 to February 2012.
Under this revised timetable it is anticipated that building work could commence in
early 2013 with the project taking between three and four years to complete
depending upon the building strategy adopted.
The first full meeting of the Design Team took place on 20th January. The purpose of
the meeting was to familiarise the team with the site and to begin the process of
developing the Architectural Brief. This has been followed by an intensive round of
workshops. Space and functional brief analyses of the Main and New Buildings have
been undertaken and functions/spatial relationship diagrams created. Draft design
options have also been prepared for discussion
Good progress continues to be made with the storylines and content. An Interpretive
Brief has been produced for Haley Sharpe Design which outlines the interpretive
philosophy for the site. This will also form the basis for the development of the
Activity Plan which is the key document for the Heritage Lottery Fund bid. A meeting
has been held with Industry curators to develop ways of delivering the industrial story
at St Fagans.
2
A very successful seminar on
Reconstructing Llys Rhosyr was held on 31st January
at which we presented our current ideas on the appearance of the building and
received advice on how the original would have been used. The day was attended
by experts in medieval archaeology, poetry, architecture, literature, music and history
from the universities of Bangor, Aberystwyth, Cardiff, Swansea and Glamorgan,
Cadw, Snowdonia National Park, Menter Mon, the Centre for Advanced Welsh &
Celtic Studies and the Royal Commission (RCAHMW).
A schedule of consultation has been drawn up. Consultation with key stakeholders
such as the Planning Authority, Cadw and the Design Commission for Wales has
already commenced. Work is progressing on a Transport Strategy and options for
parking on the site are being developed. Public consultation is progressing alongside
this.
The Draft Listing Report for the Main Building has been received from Cadw. The
Museum’s response is being co-ordinated by Purcell Miller Tritton, the architects for
the Main Building, who are also developing the Conservation Management Plan for
the building.
Other developments
At Big Pit, engineering teams have continued to implement a range of electrical and
mechanical improvements to the safety of the mine shaft. Also, in collaboration with
the HSE and the Welsh Ambulance Service, Big Pit have added a Medical
Defibrillator to the underground medical equipment and are the first coal mine in the
UK to do so.
Tenders have been received and the contractor appointed for re-thatching
Nantwallter Cottage at St Fagans. Gorse and hazel for the under-thatch has been
collected with assistance from volunteers from Brecon Beacons National Park.
Tenders have been received for the re-location of the museum shop and reception
desk at National Waterfront Museum.
At National Roman Legion Museum, funding has been secured to conduct a
feasibility study on the gallery redevelopment.
Tasks and targets for April, May, June
• Prepare the Upper Wing Galleries (19-24) to open in early July with a changing display
exploring the themes of place, identity and the human form in art from the 1950s to the
present. De-install ‘Lifetime to Legacy’ in Galleries 19, 20 and 21, and install new displays on
the Derek Williams collection, on refugee artists in Wales in the 1940s and ‘50s, and on
figuration in the art of the 1960s and ‘70s. Install a display exploring place and identity in
Welsh art in Gallery 22. Install a display of the works of Keith Arnatt and Richard Long in
Gallery 24
• Plan the launch in July 2011 of the upper floor of National Museum Cardiff as the National
Museum of Art
3
• Complete installation of the Insight Gallery and open for a Patrons evening on 14th April and
to the public on 16th April
• Complete the cleaning and refreshing of the Lower Natural History Galleries and open to the
public on 16th April
• Open the Creu Hanes - Making History 1500-1700 exhibition 2nd April
• Progress the redevelopment of the Research Library at the National Wool Museum
• National Wool Museum to explore funding opportunities for redevelopment of Ty Pen Pownd
into a sandwich room and Weavers Cottage
• Big Pit will develop the design brief for a Play Area for young children. Development
Department are seeking funding for same
• Complete the water feature in the Roman Garden by the end of April
2. Delivering an International Reputation
From Steep Hillsides: Ancient Rock Carvings from Dazu, China at National
Museum Cardiff: A successful launch event took place on 25th January, with
speeches made by members of the delegation from Chongqing, the Cultural Minister
of the Chinese Embassy, the British Council, the First Minister, our President and our
Director General. There has been significant local, national and international press
interest, which is on-going. A media report will be compiled at the end of the
exhibition. In March, the Chinese Ambassador to the UK visited the museum during
a visit to Wales, and was impressed by the exhibition.
Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales hosted a conference on 19-20th
March, entitled ‘Stoking the Kiln: Medieval and later ceramic research in Wales’. It
reviewed progress in research and knowledge over the last 20 years, potential
partnerships and future research agendas.
Staff have finalised a selection of works and have exchanged letters of intent with
the American Federation of Arts in respect of the touring exhibition ‘Rolling Hills ..’
exploring the art of the British landscape from the 17th century to present, which will
be shown in the USA in 2014-15.
Dr Richard Bevins collaborated in the research of the origin of the Stonehenge
'blustones' with colleagues in Aberystwyth and Sheffield Universities. Their paper
was recently published in an international journal, and attracted considerable media
attention.
Taxonomic research by Adrian Plant, BioSyB, and his research partners has
received global attention in the popular and scientific media. Their article on the
evolutionary reasons behind a single enlarged leg in certain males of a new ‘dance
fly’ was included as a ‘Research Highlight’ in the world-leading scientific journal
Nature. It is suggested that this phenomenon is important in courtship of the flies and
is important in evolutionary terms.
National Slate Museum welcomed 9 teachers from Indonesia, who were visiting as
part of an educational exchange programme.
National Slate Museum’s long-standing relationship with the Luxembourgian
Government’s Culture Department, which is developing a slate museum in the Haute
4
Martelange area, has evolved over this period. As a result, it is likely that a group of
officers and others involved in this project will visit the site later in 2011.
Some items from the National Wool Collection have recently been exhibited at
Stroud in an exhibition by weaver Tim Parry-Williams and Ikuko Ida a Japanese
Kimono Weaver, the exhibition was called ‘Plain Stripe Check’. Both weavers have
visited the National Wool Museum and Tim Parry Williams recently exhibited his
work in our ‘Warp and Weft’ exhibition.
Tasks and targets for April, May, June
• Organise the de-installation, packing and return transport of ‘From Steep Hillsides...’
exhibition
• Explore a possible reciprocal loan exhibition for a venue to be confirmed in Chongqing
• Continue to work with American Federation of Arts over the development of the ‘Rolling
Hills ..’ exhibition
• Continue to work on possible exchange exhibition with National Museum Stockholm, and
other possible international loans and exchanges
• Progress the partner project on a Diatom Flora of Britain and Ireland
• Investigate the demand for species identification training amongst the environmental
consultant market
• National Wool Museum to work with Romanian photographer Dragos Lumpan to plan an
exhibition of a collection of photographs of Transhumance in Romania. This will enable
the museum to develop research in to the welsh version of transhumance i.e. ‘Hafod a
Hendre’
• Promote the ‘Explore Nature’ and ‘Spring Bulbs for Schools’ projects at the Royal
Horticultural Show
3. Delivering contemporary and relevant collections and
research
A group of four medals and a badge has been donated by Idris Williams, a former
member of the Museum’s staff (1975-2000). The medals, for his service in the St
John Ambulance Corps, were awarded during his time as a museum employee.
A Late Iron Age decorated bracelet fragment discovered at Boverton, Vale of
Glamorgan, was acquired as treasure for the collections. This bracelet fragment
belongs to a rich burial, adorned with decorated neck collar and bracelet pair first
discovered in 2005 and subsequently acquired as treasure. This fragment joins with
a previously discovered half fragment to complete the pair.
A Medieval silver-gilt brooch from Llantrithyd, Vale of Glamorgan, and a post-
medieval silver-gilt finger ring from Llanmaes, Vale of Glamorgan, was acquired as
Treasure.
We have also acquired the following works:
§ Christopher Wood,
Rug Seller, Tréboul, 1930, oil on board, purchased with
support of the Derek Williams Trust, the Art Fund and a private donor.
§ Clare Woods,
Hill of Hurdles, 2010 oil on aluminium, (purchased with support
of the Derek Williams Trust and of the Contemporary Art Society).
5
§ 'Mytilidae Dish' by Ben Ryan, 2010, winner of the Young Designer Silversmith
Award 2010, presented by the Goldsmiths' Company.
§ Howard Hodgkin,
Venice, Evening, 1995, 16-part etching, purchased with the
support of the Nerys Johnson Contemporary Art Fund and of the Derek
Williams Trust.
Over 400 specimens of the British Bryological Society UK (BBSUK) moss voucher
specimens for 2010 were received to be incorporated into the rest of the BBSUK
Collection held at the Museum. These are verified specimens that expand the known
range of a species, are new to the UK or have been rediscovered at a locality after a
long absence.
Two staff members conducted three weeks of fieldwork in the Falkland Islands,
financed by a grant of £2,500 from the Falklands Islands Government, and organised
by Shaun Russell of Wales Biodiversity Hub, in collaboration with Falklands
Conservation. This involved collecting lichens and bryophytes as part of a
reconnaissance for a projected longer survey of lichens and bryophytes. Specimens
will be used as the basis for research publications and ultimately for projected
identification guides.
The
Clogmakers Workshop from Ysgeifiog, near Solva has been dismantled by the
Historic Buildings Unit. The building, tools, equipment and fittings have been
relocated to St Fagans. This was the workshop of Thomas James, probably the last
clog maker in Pembrokeshire and the building will provide a suitable and authentic
workshop for our demonstrating clogmaker. A television crew are following the
process as part of a documentary programme for S4C following the moving and re-
erection of the workshop.
A piece of work ‘Loose Threads’ by woven textile artist and designer Laura Thomas
has been purchased by the National Wool Museum. Laura Thomas is an established
woven textile artist and designer specialising in producing striking textile artworks for
public spaces, corporate environments, exhibitions and private homes. The aim of
the ‘Loose Threads’ artworks is to capture the visual impact of the warp: its linear
qualities and the optical mixing of pure colour in that moment in time before the warp
is tensioned to begin weaving.
National Waterfront Museum is facilitating research and exhibition content on the
global impact of the Welsh copper industry as part of the ESRC-funded project, in
partnership with University of Swansea, the Royal Commission (RCAHMW) and
Cadw.
Tasks and targets for April, May, June
• Plan acquisition programme, 2011-12, for presentation to the Arts Advisory Group and Derek
Williams Committee in April and May
• Continue to develop a relationship with the Wales Environment Research Hub with a view to
future collaborations and research funding
• Clogmakers workshop will be re-erected at St Fagans by Summer 2011
6
4. Engaging with defined priority audiences
Big Pit have been working with H4A (Heads of the Valleys Arts) initiative on the
‘Written in Stone’ project for the cultural Olympiad, jointly developing writing
workshops out in the landscape for young writers’ squads, Welsh learners and older
residents of the Heads of the Valley region.
Big Pit’s family learning workshops during half term saw over 300 people attend ‘Tip
Top’ recycle art workshops, based on the species which live on and around Coity
Tip. Almost 200 people participated in the ‘Metal Music’ workshops, playing the
Gamelan instruments, made from salvaged industrial materials. Also, new objects
were sourced to support the ongoing programme of outreach to care settings and
older learners.
At the
National Slate Museum, it has been arranged that students attending Nant
Gwrtheyrn, the centre which specialises in Welsh for Adults courses, will be brought
to the museum on a regular basis to experience the Camau Cymraeg Welsh for
Adults resource for Sylfaen (basic level) learners.
At the
National Wool Museum, January saw the launch of Amser Twf - a fortnightly
session for mothers and babies introducing new nursery rhymes, exploring
resources available for use with small babies and providing an opportunity to
practice Welsh language skills and chat with other parents.
The museum’s project with the Home Education Group is near completion and the
resulting work is being displayed in the Community gallery at National Wool
Museum.
Swansea’s Chinese community celebrated Chinese New Year with a public event at
the
National Waterfront Museum on 5th February. They also put together a themed
exhibition which was displayed in the Frontiers Gallery from 1st February – 6th March.
Staff supported the new Swansea Bay Tourist Guide Blue Badge course by giving
talks and tours to candidates and taking part in the final exam panels. The venue
will feature as a must-see destination in their tours.
At
National Museum Cardiff, half term family workshops focused on gaining
inspiration from the Evolution of Wales and Natural World Galleries. A large number
of family visitors took part in the workshops over the space of a week. Bird-focused
workshops were developed and delivered for family visitors to coincide with the
annual Big Garden Birdwatch.
As part of the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender) History Month at
St
Fagans, the Community Dresser display in Oriel 1 was co-produced with the Gay
Ammanford group. The LGBT Excellence Centre, who advised on best practice
during the process, was recently awarded a HLF grant to collect personal
recollections from the community. St Fagans staff will take part in this scheme by
training volunteers to record oral histories, and by archiving content. The museum
stand at the Cardiff Mardi Gras also provided opportunity for consultation and
advocacy.
7
The
National Roman Legion Museum’s Outreach project with Usk Prison went
well, and a number of the inmates returned on the second day to hear the interactive
talk for a second time. Many of the objects created by the inmates for their exhibition
are available for the Museum to keep and it is hoped that a future partnership will
provide the opportunity to create objects for the garden at Caerleon.
Also, the National Roman Legion Museum has worked with the Newport-Gwent
Dragons and Cardiff Blues Rugby teams to raise its profile with rugby fans. The
Cardiff Blues players had a photo shoot with some Roman soldiers and gladiators to
promote their upcoming match with Benetton Treviso, and the Scrum V cameras
were there to record the meeting.
Communities First: A total of 250 pupils from Communities First schools in Cardiff
worked with an artist and the art learning officer to produce a series of wall hangings
in response to the Dazu exhibition which will be displayed in the Clore Discovery
Centre. An application has been submitted to the Communities First Outcomes
Fund to run ‘Just Bling?’ projects in Communities First Areas close to each of
Amgueddfa Cymru’s museums.
Marketing
A high profile advertising campaign for National Museum Cardiff has been prepared
to take place from Easter – September 2011 to promote the opening of the Natural
History galleries and the Upper West Wing Contemporary Art galleries. The
campaign will focus on Natural History in the spring and autumn with a local radio
campaign. The summer campaign will consist of a strongly visual outdoor campaign,
and will include new photography of the contemporary art galleries.
Tasks and targets for April, May, June
• Prepare for
Project Eggs Factor: Flight of the Quail – Local Community First Schools will try to
crack an engineering puzzle at this National Waterfront Museum event run in conjunction with
Airbus Bristol and Young Engineers Association. (14th April). Arrange GEM
training day at the
National Slate Museum on ‘Museums and Young People’ in April
• Recruit participants for ‘Just Bling?’ projects at National Waterfront, National Roman Legion
Museum and National Museum Cardiff
• Host ‘Fashion Exposed’ – a family fun day in partnership with BRASS during National Science
Week at National Museum Cardiff
• Organise cycle training in Cardiff for staff and visitors during Wales Sustainability Week
• Hold tree fun activities during June half term
• Distribute Spring Bulbs for Schools certificates and host the competition trip at St Fagans or
Llanberis
• Arrange 2nd phase of Start project – Cardiff pupils to work with a poet in response to the
centre block Art displays and the Derek Williams exhibition
• Plan and organise the contribution to the Festival of British Archaeology 2011 from National
Museum Cardiff and St Fagans: National History Museum
5. Communicating our collections
The Saturnalia event at the National Roman Legion Museum succeeded in attracting
411 children, while the Christmas Party which explored Christmas through the ages
8
was a big success with just over 600 visitors. The event offered the chance to
sample Roman Saturnalia, a Medieval Christmas, a Victorian Christmas and a retro
70’s Christmas. Feedback from staff and visitors has been very positive
. Also in this
period, the ‘We Are Family’ LGBT exhibition at National Roman Legion Museum
opened.
Your Roman Valentine event ran on 13th February. Activities included making a wolf
mask, decorating valentine cookies and a valentine wish tree these were tied into the
Roman festival of Lupercalia.
The evening talk ‘This Little Piggy Bank’ on the Llanvaches Coin Hoard, given by
Numismatist Edward Besly, was sold out and received rave reviews. Dr Juliette
Wood of Cardiff University delivered the talk ‘Into the Maze’ explaining how the writer
Arthur Machen blended archaeology and folklore into his unique philosophy and
fiction.
Big Pit’s ‘Love Food’ festival, to celebrate Santes Dwynwen was attended by over
1,000 visitors.
Also at Big Pit, the annual programme of biodiversity activities was finalised with the
‘Forgotten Landscapes’ partnership, and includes landscape detectives, pond
conservation and night-time wild walk. All make use of the unique post-industrial
landscape around Big Pit and Coity Tip.
At the
National Slate Museum, 100 children from four schools took part in
Christmas workshops which involved making Victorian tree decorations, one suited
to a rich and one to a poor Welsh household, and listening to traditional stories.The
Llanberis Twf group joined the museum for a morning of activities and a visit to Sion
Corn.
247 primary school children took part in the Washday Workshops at National Slate
Museum, a third of whom were new visitors to the site
The Model Railways Event at National Slate Museum, between 24th and 27th
February was, as always, busy and successful. It was an ideal opportunity to discuss
potentially complex themes, such as energy generation or historical transport
infrastructures, within a more light-hearted context.
At the
National Wool Museum, the Knitting Club completed their yearlong project to
create a quilt based on traditional Welsh patterns and colours. This is the first project
to be displayed in the Community gallery at the Museum.
The exhibition ‘My Life in Textiles’ on the work of knitwear designer Sasha Kagan is
on display. The workshop programme with the designer, which includes a
masterclass for knitters and a special session for the Knitting Club, is already
completely fully booked. Her work has previously been seen in the UK, USA, Japan
and Australia.
Cartoon workshops for the Museum 2011 Advent calendar were held with Ysgol
Aberteifi.
9
The Food quilts produced in workshops at the food festival have been displayed at
the Museum.
The
National Waterfront Museum launched
'Behind the Grey Doors – Who works
in the museum?' - an innovative display created by 30 sixth form students from
Ysgol Pen-Y-Bryn Special Needs School who worked with all the Museum staff to
create an exhibition of photographs, texts and videos about the work of the museum
and its employees. The exhibition attracted very positive feedback from the school
and from museum visitors.
The museum's in- house exhibition
‘Strikes and Riots’ looked at what drove workers
to down tools and strike using examples from Welsh history and was displayed
between 20th November – 3rd April.
To celebrate St Dwynwen’s Day - the welsh patron saint of lovers - the museum
came alive with all things love-inspired. Highlights included a display of Welsh
lovespoons, a guess the love object mystery quiz, love-themed storytelling and
performances from Pelenna Male Voice Choir.
On Saturday 5th February, the museum hosted celebrations to mark Chinese New
Year. Working with the city’s Chinese Community Centre, visitors experienced the
ancient art of paper craft, lantern making and Chinese painting as well as tai-chi
tasters, shuttlecock kicking, calligraphy and games with chop sticks.
A special exhibition to mark the centenary of International Women’s Day was hosted
at the museum on 8th March. ‘
Wonderful Welsh Women’ paid tribute to individuals
who, despite the prejudices and constraints of their era, played a crucial role to
developments in Wales and indeed the world. As part of the exhibition, the
Museum’s learning department offered workshops for Welsh Baccalaureate and A
Levels students designed to help them understand the important role of women in
industry. Activities included a ‘
Wonderful Welsh Women’ inspired trail, a peace
banner-making workshop and an opportunity to discover what women did in the
workplace and their role in the home over the past 100 years.
This year’s Shrove Tuesday was celebrated with the launch of the new Waterfront
Crêperie. The Museum café has been transformed into a haven for pancake lovers,
offering a mix of savoury galettes and sweet crêpes.
As part of National Science & Engineering Week, the Museum offered visitors the
choice of two creative workshops,
Invent your own Shampoo and the
Science of
Photography. At
National Museum Cardiff, four new activity booklets have been produced to
encourage families to work together to engage with collections. They examine:
Impressionist and Modern Art; Modern and Contemporary Art; Explorer – Clore
Discovery Centre; Evolution of Wales and the Natural History Galleries.
10
Chinese New Year was celebrated with a number of events, which also helped to
raise the profile of the Dazu exhibition.
The displays and talks at National Museum Cardiff celebrating LGBT month in
February took a fresh look at the Museum’s collections. The programme included
collections from Art, Archaeology and the Library, highlighting the quality and
breadth of our collections, and their relevance today.
At
St Fagans, as part of the ‘Explore Nature’ project a new display and activity area
opened in Oriel 1 during February 11. The Nature Den includes self-led activities and
footage from a new feeder camera on site. Nature films have also been produced.
In total, 6250 visitors attended the Christmas 3-Nights Event 7-9 December 2010, in
spite of temperatures below freezing on the Wednesday and Thursday. A number of
new attractions were added to the programme this year including some reindeer,
donkeys, turkey plucking and a marquee with some 30 stalls. The historic buildings
had been specially lit, creating a colourful seasonal atmosphere on the site. Income
covered expenditure and a modest profit was made from the event
Across
all sites, press activity was organised to mark 10 years since the introduction
of free entry to Wales’ national museums as well as to announce the appointment of
our new President.
Publications
Designers have been appointed for the design, typeset, print procurement and print-
management of the new companion guide to the National Museum of Art. They have
been briefed fully and are working on a design concept. New photography is also
underway. The English-language content is in draft and ready for editing, and
translators have been booked and briefed.
Advertising and PR activity for the ‘
Discovered in Time’ publication
is in hand, to
include an event on the programme of the Hay Literature Festival.
Tasks and targets for April, May, June
• Celebrate National Science and Engineering Week at the National Waterfront Museum, with a
range of facilitated workshops for primary school students based around the theme of
Communication
• Develop new family trails for the Natural history galleries at National Museum Cardiff
• Promote new programme of nature walks and activities at St Fagans
• Install new interpretation in the IKEA sponsored reading room in the Ty Gwyrdd at St Fagans
• Celebrate Adult Learners Week (14th - 20th May 2011) at St Fagans with tours of the cottage
gardens; workshops in St Teilo's Church and a one-day foraging for food course
• Host Sadwrn Siarad at St Fagans, in partnership with Cardiff and Vale Welsh for Adults - a
day of activities for Welsh learners
11
6. Expanding community, strategic and financial partnerships
The National Roman Legion Museum have developed projects with Trefethen
Communities First, with a programme of enhanced curriculum sessions being
developed following a successful experimental session in December.
The joint project between the National Wool Museum, Oriel Myrddin and Carmarthen
Pupil Referral Unit is now complete and the work will be displayed at the museum.
The National Waterfront Museum hosted a EGNI (Experiences Generating New
Innovation) virtual business trade fair on 2nd December. A total of 250 college
students showcased their virtual businesses and generally the standard was
extremely high. The day was so successful that we plan to repeat the event next
year.
The outreach area in the Main Hall at National Museum Cardiff featured a colourful
and creative display on the theme of birds, which was the result of partnership
between Penpergwm House, a home for the elderly, local school pupils and elderly
residents, co-ordinated by artist Vicky Wilson. The project and display were featured
in HTV news and have attracted considerable interest.
Further meetings were held as part of CyMAL's review of
Cyfoeth Cymru Gyfan -
Sharing Treasures. The touring exhibition '
Dinosaurs in your Garden' opened at
Brecknock Museum & Art Gallery on February 19th and will be on display until May
2nd . Work continued on the two forthcoming projects at Rhayader Museum & Gallery
and at Rhyl Museum.
As part of the
Celf Cymru Gyfan - ArtShare Wales scheme, an important Ceri
Richards oil painting on loan from the Glynn Vivian Gallery was installed at Oriel y
Parc in January as part of the final phase of the
Changing Landscape exhibition.
The final two projects organised under the scheme were completed with the opening
in February of exhibitions in Newtown and Ruthin.
Fables from a New World : The
life and times of T.H. Thomas as imgined by Jennie Savage opened on February 4th
at Oriel Davies Gallery.
Silverstruck opened at Ruthin Craft Centre on February 12th.
The exhibition celebrates the current strength of contemporary silversmithing in the
UK reflecting new directions realised by traditional and cutting-edge techniques.
A partnership event with BBC Wales was held at National Museum Cardiff to
publicise the new television series
Rolf on Welsh Art. It was a popular event for the
public, with over 1,300 people turning up to see Rolf Harris in the flesh as one of his
paintings for the series was unveiled in our gallery.
A media relations and social media training day was delivered by Amgueddfa Cymru
for the Federation of Museum and Galleries, as part of delivering the Assembly
Government’s Museum Strategy.
A decision has been made to take forward the International Year of Biodiversity
Communications Group set up last year and this will now be the Wales Biodiversity
12
Communications Group and will be focused on communicating the importance of
protecting biodiversity and feeding into the Assembly Government’s ‘A Living Wales’
strategy.
Staff at Big Pit have worked closely with the Blaenafon partnership to re-establish a
strategic and cohesive Marketing strategy.
Over the last year the community at Gelligaer has been working to increase the
profile of its Roman Fort. Richard Brewer, Research Keeper of Roman Archaeology
has contributed to the project by writing a booklet,
Gelligaer Roman Fort (22 pages),
which has been published in colour. The project has been supported by Gelligaer
Historical Society and is published by Gelligaer & Pen-y-Bryn Partnership and
Gelligaer Community Council.
The Slate Heritage Partnership (which will be renamed Slate Wales//Llechi Cymru )
met in December 2010, and agreed key targets.
Dr Lisa Lewis, Head of Drama at the University of Glamorgan, has won a prestigious
Strategic Insight Programme placement to spend time at St Fagans. This
collaborative project aims to develop closer links between higher education
institutions and external organisations.
Tasks and targets for April, May, June
• Launch the Peregrines on the Clock Tower project, with a web camera and main hall display,
live from 1st April. The RSPB will continue to work in partnership with the museum; providing
essential volunteers to help interpret the camera and the life of the peregrines
• The exhibition
Silverstruck will open on April 12th at National Museum Cardiff
• The exhibition ‘
Stories from the Sea: above, below and beyond the tide’ will open on April
16th Oriel y Parc. This exhibition which involves a full gallery change will look at all aspects of
the sea with particular reference to Pembrokeshire, from the environment, industry, history
and storytelling to the landscape underwater. In addition to from a variety of AC-NMW
departments, it also includes a number of external loans including from the Arts Council
collection and Scolton Manor Museum
• Work with Wrexham towards their exhibition on the Eisteddfod and with CyMAL on the
implementation of their review of
Cyfoeth Cymru Gyfan - Sharing Treasures
• Continue to seek further funding for
Celf Cymru Gyfan - ArtShare Wales
• Open two Sharing Treasures projects at Rhayader Museum & Gallery and at Rhyl Museum in
June
• National Slate Museum to liaise with Cyngor Gwynedd, Cyngor Conwy and Snowdonia
National Park Authority in respect of industrial heritage input to the CADW-funded
interpretation strategy for north-west Wales
• Loan the Roman Rhythm exhibition to the Llanrwst Almshouse Museum at the end of June
7. Supporting and developing our staff
Twenty museum staff attended the specially arranged BBC training session ‘
Have
you got News for us?’.
A briefing day was arranged for Learning staff with speakers from the Welsh
Assembly Government and Wales Council for Voluntary Action on the Communities
First Programme and the Assembly Government’s anti-poverty initiatives.
Twelve members of staff from across the Museum participated in a one day
masterclass workshop on ‘Appreciative Inquiry’ at the National Museum Cardiff on
13
March 2nd and will be using their newly developed skills in this approach to take
forward work on improving post-project appraisal, exhibition evaluation and
development, reviewing the learning strategy and in identifying the best approaches
to celebrating success throughout the organisation.
At St Fagans a training day for learning staff involved in the Heritage Lottery Fund
redevelopment project focused on Learning Styles and developing co-production
with young people.
Education and Events staff from National Roman Legion Museum visited the Pitt
Rivers Museum and the Ashmolean in Oxford to compare and contrast their
presentation styles.
Staff at the National Slate Museum undertook a benchmarking visit to the new
exhibition at Ucheldre Centre, Holyhead, organised by the Welsh Centre for
International Affairs.
At Big Pit, funding of the next stage of the succession plan for key mining staff has
been agreed and is being progressed.
The National Roman Legion Museum has been awarded gold status for Investors in
People, the highest level attainable. The award recognises the role of staff in
delivering the Museum’s objectives and the continuous development that takes place
in this process.
Two members of the National Waterfront Museum Management team began training
endorsed by the Institute of Leadership and Management.
A sum of £10,000 was received from Keep Cardiff Moving Grant, enabling the
purchase of cycle shelters and travel information boards at National Museum Cardiff
and St Fagans . A launch event and workshops are planned for Wales Sustainability
Week.
Tasks and targets April, May, June
• Begin Phase 2 of the roll out the Competency Framework across the organisation
• Continue the preparatory work for the 2011 Staff Survey
• Continue the succession planning programme
• Advertise three apprentice positions in partnership with the Traditional Skills Bursary Fund
• Explore opportunities to work with Groundwork North Wales to provide hosted placements in
Llanberis
• Conclude the implementation of agreed changes to the Pension Scheme
• Develop an Action Plan as a result of the outcomes of the Stonewall survey of the
organisation
• Continue to explore the implications of the legislative changes which were introduced as part
of the abolition of the Default Retirement Age and its implications for the Museum
• Internal staff newsletter for National Waterfront Museum to be launched
14
8. Virtual and new media solutions
Following the successful acceptance of the People’s Collection Wales’ Business
Plan, Amgueddfa Cymru will take the lead on the matters relating to Technical
Development and Servicing, Learning, Legal issues and Audience Development.
Funding has been confirmed by the Minster. People’s Collection Wales’ Project
Director Rheinallt Foster Jones, joined Amgueddfa Cymru staff on 1st April and will
be based at the National Slate Museum. Museum staff also contributed to a People’s
Collection project to create resources for students and teachers studying 20th century
Welsh history, including the Welsh Baccalaureate and GCSE.
The new-look SCAN website has been launched.
Many staff members attended and participated in the 3rd Digital Heritage Conference
run by the Royal Commission on Ancient Historical Monuments Wales.
The Online Curator audited current Rhagor articles to ensure that content is up-to-
date, with findings sent to curatorial departments.
Tasks and targets for April, May, June
• Complete the updating of the BioSyB web pages over the next six months and add further
collections catalogues as they become available
• Video conferencing equipment to be installed at National Waterfront Museum
• Collate and review response to Rhagor audit from curatorial departments. Online Curator
to implement changes
9. Advocate for public, political and financial sustainability
The learning department delivered a presentation on the ‘Future Animals’ project at a
Public Engagement conference in London, run by the Beacons for Public
Engagement programme. A display on the Future Animals project was also
produced for a Beacons event in the Senedd.
Big Pit was represented at the Sandford Award ceremony at the Houses of
Parliament, Westminister, where the Learning Officer received the award on behalf
of museum from Lloyd Grossman and was met by local MP Paul Murphy. Big Pit
also became the first National Museum Wales site to be awarded the ‘Learning
Outside the Classroom’ (LOTC) Quality Badge.
Big Pit was invited to the St David’s Day business breakfast at Coleg Gwent Ystrad
Mynach, to advocate for the museum staff’s experience of ‘Welsh in the Workplace’.
A funding bid was submitted to the Leverhulme Trust to enable poet Samantha
Wynne Rhydderch to create work inspired by the National Wool museum and the
textile collection.
The retention rate for the Patrons membership during 2010/11 stands at 100%. On
March 8th, a Patrons’ Cultivation Event was hosted by Art. 35 Patrons and guests
15
attended with a potential for 9 new memberships. On 22nd March, the Patrons’
Advisory Panel met to discuss the forthcoming events programme and initial
fundraising ideas for St Fagans.
Recent funding success include: £2,000 received from the Aurelius Trust for the
redisplay of the Roman Bath Stone Coffin at the National Roman Legion Museum,
£2,000 received from G. C. Gibson Charitable Trust towards the Gladiator! event at
the National Roman Legion Museum, £9,504 received from the Andrew W Mellon
Foundation towards the J-Stor Global Plants Initiative, £5,000 received from Corus
(now Tata) completing their sponsorship of the Learning Spaces at the National
Waterfront Museum, Swansea, £5,000 legacy received for the St Fagans-National
History Museum, small award granted from the Bodfach Trust towards the Spring
Bulbs for Schools project and a £30,000 private gift received towards the purchase
of “The Rug Seller” by Christopher Wood.
Plans to attend the Hay Festival, Urdd Eisteddfod, Royal Welsh Show and the
National Eisteddfod are being progressed.
Funding has been approved for National Wool Museum to work with Menter
Gorllewin Sir Gar to provide computer literacy sessions for a Communities First
project at the National Wool Museum to begin April 2011.
A bench was donated and a tree planted near Stryd Lydan at St Fagans in memory
of the late Dr. Douglas Bassett, former President, on 13th January by the Bassett
family. A conference in Dr Bassett’s memory is to be held on 26th May at Oakdale.
Tasks and targets for April, May, June
•
Following on from Welsh Assembly Government elections, all Amgueddfa Cymru sites to
work with colleagues to identify and agree a strategy for targeting key stakeholders and
opinion formers across Wales
•
National Wool Museum to attend an event at the Botanic Gardens arranged by Les Bryan –
Hobbies weekend
•
National Wool Museum to continue to work with Gwili Railway on joint events and marketing
and partnership opportunities
•
The National Roman Legion Museum is working in partnership with the Rotary Club to
arrange a fun run in Caerleon for 11 June to raise money for charity
•
Plan to be developed for post Assembly election with newly elected Assembly Members
10. Ensuring a strategic and commercial approach to the
development and allocation of resources
Enterprises Trading continues to be difficult, with the management accounts to December
showing like for like profits above budget by 5.19% but below last year by 17%.
Across the different income streams the Trading Company had seen good
performances from catering, car parking, corporate letting and filming. Income and
profit from venue hire has fallen considerably year on year and our retail business
has struggled with falls in turnover, spend per visitor and margin. Trading for our
16
retail and catering operations has remained patchy through January, February and
early March, although half term was good with retail sales up 21% year on year.
The Enterprises Board agreed the 2011/12 budget during February which sees
turnover remaining flat year on year at £3.8million. Controllable profit, however, is
budgeted to increase from a forecast of £449K for 2010/11 to £575K. This growth is
founded upon the introduction of parking charges at Big Pit and an increase at St
Fagans, the impact of an increased marketing budget plus initiatives contained with
the Trading Company’s three year plan and a specific retail action plan for 2011/12.
Finally significant progress has been made to refurbish and upgrade shop and
catering facilities at several sites.
The entrance alterations at the National Museum Cardiff shop were completed in
time to capitalise on the Dazu exhibition.
In conjunction with the site and a local slate quarry, the café at the National Slate
Museum has been refurbished with a new self service counter and slate clad walls.
Big Pit has continued to support colleagues in Enterprise in improving the income
generation potential of the site by measures such as:
§ introducing a car parking charge;
§ enhancing on-site promotion of the retail and catering offer;
§ beginning the implementation of an action plan to further reduce the catering
loss; and
§ investigating the greater loss suffered due to the decline in some aspects of
retail performance since 2001.
A total of some 95 acres of agricultural land to the north and south of St Fagans
History Museum has been leased from the Plymouth Estate on a Farm Business
Tenancy.
Finance Report
Management Accounts to 28 February 2011
The Board will find attached, as Appendix A, the financial position report containing
the summary management accounts to 28th February 2011.
(i) Revenue
Income is in line or in excess of budget due to some further increases in
departmental generated income. Departmental expenditure has been controlled and
is generally in line with budget though note 11 on page 2 of Appendix A does
highlight the pleasing underspend on energy costs and ring-fenced underspends on
the project development for St Fagans and the National Waterfront Museum
Swansea. These underspends contribute to a significant increase in carryover above
the figure forecasted last Autumn.
17
Due to the Museum’s advance preparation for the forthcoming reductions in Grant in
Aid, the Museum had wisely negotiated an increase in revenue carryover at the end
of the year to 6% of grant with the Welsh Assembly Government. Furthermore
approval has been received from the Assembly enabling further carryovers to be
applied by way of advance contributions on future year’s employers’ contributions to
the pension scheme. With the further savings made and the underspends referred to
above, forecasted carryover is currently showing maximising of the 6% at £1498k
and, at the time of this report, advanced payment to the pension scheme amounting
to £1382k (please note that this is higher than the figure recorded in the February
management accounts appendix due to further payments in March).
(ii) Specimen Acquisition
Appendix A notes the major acquisitions during the year and again it is highlighted
that there is likely to be significant underspend by the year end, with the carryover
into next year helping to alleviate the 50% cut in this grant commencing in 2011/12.
(iii) Capital
Expenditure is reasonably in line with the budget, most notably in respect of the
upper west wing at NMC. The key issue to note in the capital grant is the draw down
of £2million in respect of St Fagans infrastructure and redevelopment works, with
Assembly approval for cash carryover of £800k of the £2million. The balance has
been managed by utilising the Assembly funds to cover the costs of the upper west
wing, rather than draw down private funds, meaning that ultimately private funds will
be reduced to meet the St Fagans costs for which the Assembly grant was originally
awarded.
(iv) Private Funds
Following the comment under capital above, expenditure from private funds is much
lower than budget, with the closing balance on private funds being significantly
higher than budgeted. This position will be corrected over the forthcoming years as
the St Fagans works progress.
Budget Planning 2011/12 – 2013/14
The Assembly allocations to the Museum in respect of revenue, capital and
specimen acquisition grants were announced in the Assembly’s draft budget in
November and reported to the Board of Trustees at their December meeting. Those
figures have been subsequently confirmed by the Assembly in February 2011.
Budget planning and adjustment further to the announcements was completed by
the Directors in line with the parameters set by the Trustees, covering desired levels
of carryover and a break even budget by 2013/14. Details of the budget adjustments
in delivering the profile over the three years that, not only exceeded the Trustees
parameters, but also enables a further redirection of Museum expenditure, was
provided to, and considered by, the Performance Review Committee in February.
18
Pensions At the time of this report payments to the Pension Scheme as an advance on next
year’s employer’s contributions have been made in excess of £1.1m, as part of the
Museum’s broader carryover planning.
Furthermore, it is very pleasing to report that the Assembly allocated a further £150k
for the Pension Scheme from the 2010/11 revenue budgets and this sum has also
been transferred to the Pension Scheme administrators as a one-off contribution to
the Scheme assets.
There are separate papers on today’s Board agenda in respect of the
maladministration and drafting claims against Eversheds and Mercers plus two
Deeds of Amendment reflecting changes to the Scheme previously agreed by the
Board (and via consultation with the membership) and further changes emanating
from the Finance Act 2004.
Audit Reports The Audit Committee received, at their meeting on 10th February, satisfactory
internal audit reports on collections management, risk management, sundry income
at St. Fagans and a follow up on prior year recommendations. Two reports were due
for finalisation at that time, which, when completed, would complete the internal audit
plan for 2010/11.
The same Audit Committee received and approved the Wales Audit Office strategy
for their audit on the Museum’s statutory accounts for 2010/11 and, subsequent to
that, the interim audit was conducted in March with no issues arising. In a similar
vein, the pre-audit meeting with KTS Owens Thomas, who are now the external
auditors for both NWMS Ltd. and NMGW Enterprises Ltd., was held.
IT
The new IT wide area network continues to operate satisfactorily coping well with the
additional loading required by overnight site backups.
A trial image management system (IMS) to help ease local image storage and
processing problems has been installed at Swansea. Work is underway to agree
how best to migrate the existing images from the site Shared folder to the IMS
following which we expect to be able to include Swansea in the schedule of
overnight backups. Meanwhile image storage is starting to become a problem at
other sites.
Wireless Internet access is operational at Swansea though some configuration
issues still remain to be completed. A new wireless installation is available at
Cathays Park. In the meantime we are working to offer an alternative model for
access that requires only online registration. Plans are underway to extend the
wireless system to other sites.
19
The new firewall system has been installed and the web security system updated
with only minimal interruption to existing services.
Infrastructure support for the replacement St Fagans "BirdCam" was completed
successfully.
A new video conferencing system has been installed at Llanberis and is operating
successfully. Plans are in hand to upgrade video-conferencing at several other sites
including Swansea, Caerleon, St Fagans and Drefach.
A considerable amount of work is underway to centralise information for the "Making
History" project to enable data to be shared across all sites and to upgrade the
existing FTP service to allow information to be shared securely with Buildings
Department, suppliers and consultants.
Knowledge and Information Management
The Photographic Unit have prepared a three-year development plan which includes
the scoping, development, testing and implementation of an in-house developed
Image Management System (IMS). A way forward for the development of the IMS
along with modifications to Enterprise’s ‘print on demand’ web service has also been
agreed.
The Information Security Workshops continue to be provided and by the end of
March 19th workshops will have been completed with over 250 staff attending.
During this quarter, 4 Freedom of Information (FOI) requests were received which
required specific legal advice. All FOIs have been completed within 20 days.
Tasks and targets for April, May, June
• Complete the statutory accounts and audits for NWMS Ltd., NMGW Enterprises
Ltd. and the Museum consolidated accounts
• Finalise internal audit work for 2011/12 and receive the annual report for
consideration at the Audit Committee on 19 May
• Ensure our retail and catering operations are ready to capitalise on the Easter
holidays, additional bank holiday and May holidays
• In conjunction with colleagues in New Media and Photography implement agreed
actions to develop an on-line image library for commercial users
11. Recommendations
It is recommended that this Report is noted.
David Anderson, Director General
April 2011.
20
APPENDIX A
FINANCIAL POSITION REPORT
AS AT 28 FEBRUARY 2011
1. REVENUE BUDGET
Cash
Accrued
Cash
Cash
Cash
Current
Actual to Actual to Budget to Variance
Budget
28-Feb
28-Feb
28-Feb
28-Feb
£' 000
£' 000
£' 000
£' 000
£' 000
Note
Income
2,078
Cash B/Fwd
1
2,078
2,031
2,031
0
23,514
Assembly Grant in Aid
2
19,638
19,638
19,274
364
315
Other Grant
3
90
0
0
0
501
Trading Subsidiary Contribution
4
148
146
146
0
490
Dept Self Generated Income
5
584
564
406
158
499
Contribution from CCS
6
447
488
488
0
85
Specimen/Private Funds Transfer
7
72
26
26
0
27,482
Total Income
23,057
22,893
22,371
522
Expenditure
(18,449)
Salary Costs
8
(16,649)
(16,649)
(16,889)
240
(150)
Payment to pension fund
9
(1,133)
(1,133)
0
(1,133)
(465)
Redundancy Costs
10
(422)
(422)
(422)
0
(6,062)
Operating Costs
11
(4,338)
(4,209)
(5,060)
851
(263)
Transfer to CMP
12
(145)
0
0
0
(2,093)
Provisions
13
0
0
0
0
0
Contingency
14
0
0
0
0
(27,482)
Total Expenditure
(22,687)
(22,413)
(22,371)
(42)
0
Net Income/(Expenditure)
370
480
0
480
Note 1 : Cash B/Fwd - There was an original cash carryforward of £2.025m revised to £2.078m due
to an increase in final profit from the Trading Subsidiary for 2009/10. The cash transfer of the Trading
Subsidiary gift aided profit from 2009-10 of £476,000 (with £132,000 due for transfer to the Capital
Masterplan in connection with US Tour monies) was actioned in December. The carryforward still
awaits an income transfer from Private Funds of £47,000 (which relates to Entrust funding).
Note 2 : Assembly Grant in Aid – The figure of £23.514m includes a reduction of £74,000 from the
original figure in the Remit Letter from the Assembly (and is per the in year general budget cuts
imposed across all the Assembly budgets for 2010/11) but includes additional grant, recently
awarded, of £150,000 for payment into the pension fund. This grant is drawn down monthly in line
with anticipated expenditure. An amount of £19.638m was drawn down to the end of February.
Note 3 : Other Grant – The Museum is receiving further funding of £90,000 from the Assembly as a
contribution towards work it is doing on the Peoples Collection project. It also includes an amount of
£225,000 awarded by HLF (a total of £450,000 which will be profiled across two financial years) to
develop the bid to HLF for the SNHM redevelopment project. This money will be match funded by the
21
Museum and an allocation has been made from the contingency to this effect. A full claim for the
Peoples Collection grant was submitted in February. HLF funding will not now be drawn down until
the next financial year.
Note 4 : Trading Subsidiary contribution - We have budgeted for a contribution from NMGW
Enterprises Ltd of £501,000 (which consists of £162,000 overhead recharges and £339,000 profit).
The profit element will not be realised until the end of the financial year (i.e. when cash may be
transferred to the Museum, although there is scope to make interim transfers). Recharges amounting
to £146,000 have been made to the end of February.
Note 5 : Dept Self Generated income - The current total departmental self generated income target
is £490,000. Actual income to 28 February was £564,000 against a target of £406,000. There are no
variances that need reporting other than income being received ahead of forecast or not being
adequately budgeted/profiled by departments. Any unspent third party income can be carried over to
the next financial year and is not subject to any carryover restriction.
Note 6 : Contribution from CCS - The £499,000 contribution from the City and County of Swansea
(CCS) is specific to the running costs of the Waterfront museum (being £488,000 agreed funding from
2009/10 plus an estimated inflation increase of £11,000 with the actual calculation in January
indicating that it is more than this but confirmation is awaited from the CCS). Contribution received to
28 February, was £488,000.
Note 7 : Specimen/ Private Funds Transfer – Net transfers from SPG of £35,000 (to cover the cost
of the Historic Buildings Unit staff costs of £53,000 less a reimbursement to SPG from the sale of
Flight of £18,000) and Private Funds of £50,000 (to cover the cost of the Development dept operating
costs and donations to NMWS) will be made during the year when appropriate, although it is likely
that the Development dept operating costs will be met with an allocation from contingency this year.
An amount of £26,000 has been transferred to the end of February relating to HBU staff costs with the
balance due for transfer in March.
Note 8 : Staff costs - Actual staff costs were £16.649m against a year to date budget of £16.889m
giving an underspend on the face of the accounts to date of £240,000 (which includes savings of
£98,000 against the NWMS budget but these savings are ringfenced to NWMS). There are no
variances that need reporting. The extent to which underspent budgets can be clawed back to
contingency and reallocated per Museum priorities is being investigated but is currently estimated at
£140,000. Clawback to contingency is actioned periodically (an amount of £431,000 has been clawed
back to the end of December).
Note 9 : Payment to pension fund – The museum has had approval from the Assembly to make
advance payments of contributions into the pension fund utilising cash from the provision account and
carryforward surplus. Advance payments to the 28 February amount to £1.133m. The museum has
also received additional grant from the Assembly of £150,000 as a one off payment into the pension
fund to help with the deficit.
Note 10 : Redundancy costs – This is the remainder of the cost of the second round of voluntary
severance which has fallen into the 2010/11 financial year (expenditure of £93,000). It also includes
most of the costs of the third round of voluntary severance which is currently under way (with the
balance being paid via the Trading Subsidiary). This will cost £418,000 this financial year and is being
funded from the in year salary savings it generates (£168,000) and from contingency (£250,000). The
final payment is due in March.
Note 11 : Operating costs - Actual operating costs, to 28 February, were £4.209m against a budget
profile of £5.060m. Variances have been investigated and are in the main due to timing differences
between the budget profile and actuals. However there are some major variances. There are
significant savings against the energy budget, which is a result of better energy management and
lower than expected price increases and likely to be in the region of £200,000. Money allocated for
the SNHM project feasibility study amounting to £140,000 will not be spent until the next financial
year. There are also savings of £369,000 against the NWMS budget but these savings are ringfenced
to NWMS.
22
Note 12 : Transfer to CMP – This is the transfer of income from the US Tour monies coming via the
Trading Subsidiary profit from 2009/10 (£132,000) and 2010/11 (£58,000) plus a revenue
carryforward and contingency transfer of £73,000.
Note 13 : Provisions – The current carry forward provision is £2.093m. However with further
approved allocations, likely clawbacks and advance payments to the pension fund (see Note 9 above)
this currently gives an anticipated provision to the end of March 2011 of £1.378m (excluding the ring
fenced NWMS budget) and is likely to increase further as final savings crystallize in March. This
money will be earmarked for carryforward into 2011/12, to help with the adverse budget position
projected next year and beyond. Approval for a 6% carryforward has been given by the Assembly
(normally 2%) with any excess being payable as an advance payment of contributions to the pension
fund.
Note 14 : Contingency - The carryforward/contingency account is actively managed and enables
funding to be redistributed across the Museum. As at 28 February an amount of £649,000 has already
been re-allocated from contingency (with a further £158,000 pending transfer) leaving a balance of
£Nil (though significant provisions are retained for carryover to meet future budget deficits). Major
items of expenditure allocated from contingency include SNHM project development HLF match
funding of £160,000, a contribution towards phase 3 voluntary severance of £250,000 and offset for
the GIA reduction of £74,000.
2. SPECIMEN BUDGET
Cash
Accrued
Cash
Current
Actual to Actual to
Budget
28-Feb
28-Feb
£' 000
£' 000
£' 000
Note
Income
479
Cash B/Fwd
1
479
479
1,085
Assembly Grant in Aid
2
650
650
644
Other contributions
3
18
412
626
2,208
Total Income
1,773
1,541
Expenditure
(728)
Department
4
(548)
(501)
(934)
Special Purchases
5
(729)
(729)
(546)
Unallocated
6
0
0
(2,208)
Total Expenditure
(1,277)
(1,230)
0
Net Income/(Expenditure)
496
311
Note 1 : Cash B/Fwd - There was a cash carryforward of £479,000.
Note 2 : Assembly Grant in Aid – The figure of £1.085m is per the Remit Letter from the Assembly
plus a recently awarded one off grant of £10,000. This grant is drawn down monthly in line with
anticipated expenditure. An amount of £650,000 was drawn down to the end of February.
Note 3 : Other contributions - This includes £626,000 of in year contributions from the Art Fund, the
National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Derek Williams Trust and private donations and bequests
towards specimen acquisitions. It also includes a transfer from Revenue of £18,000 for the sale of
Flight exhibition.
Note 4 : Department budgets - Departmental spend as at 28 February was £501,000 against a total
budget allocation of £728,000.
23
Note 5 : Special Purchases budget - Special Purchases spend was £729,000 against a budget
allocation of £934,000. This includes unspent Centenary Fund Partnership cumulative funds of
£60,000.
Major items of spend out of departmental and special purchase budgets to 28 February include:
Dept
Description
Cost (£)
Art
‘Welsh Landscape’ by William Dyce
557,000
A&N
Langstone Vessels
21,000
Art
‘Caerphilly Castle’ by Hendrik Danckerts
8,750
Art
‘Palazzo Loredan’ by Francesco Guardi
85,000
Art
‘The Visitors’ prints by Keith Arnatt
52,440
Art
‘Tree’ by Lida Abdul
22,610
Art
‘The Train’ by Olga Chemysheva
21,620
Art
‘Hill of Hurdles’ by Clare Woods
13,600
Art
‘Untitled’ by Jacqueline Lerat
7,650
Art
‘A Setting’ by Anthony Shapland
5,500
Note 6 : Unallocated – There is a currently a contingency of £546,000.
3. CAPITAL MASTERPLAN BUDGET
Cash
Accrued
Cash
Current
Actual to Actual to
Budget
28-Feb
28-Feb
£' 000
£' 000
£' 000
Note
Income
(73)
Cash B/Fwd
1
(73)
(73)
65
Transfer from Revenue
2
13
0
925
Assembly Grant in Aid
3
925
925
1,200
Other Assembly Grant
4
1,000
1,000
0
Carbon Trust Loan
5
0
0
400
Transfers from Private Funds
6
957
114
1,051
Other (eg Development fundraising)
7
1,366
364
3,568
Total Income
4,188
2,330
Expenditure
8
(667)
Maintenance Programme
(371)
(253)
(2,459)
NMC Upper West Wing
(2,408)
(2,301)
(100)
SNHM Infrastructure Works
(74)
(78)
(82)
NMC East Wing & Centre Block
(36)
(36)
(96)
NMC Science Zone
(22)
(18)
(169)
NMC Learning Spaces
(147)
(145)
(51)
Residual Projects
(10)
(10)
(3,624)
Total Expenditure
(3,068)
(2,841)
(56)
Net Income/(Expenditure)
1,120
(511)
The above table represents a snap shot of the overall Capital Master Plan budget for this year. In
practice the nature of the capital budget is such that there is a planned 2 year rolling budget (which is
kept under constant revision depending on priorities).
Note 1 : Cash B/Fwd - There was a deficit cash carryforward of £73,000.
24
Note 2 : Transfer from Revenue – A transfer of £65,000 from Revenue carryforward and
contingency allocations for the Castle Tea Rooms, Learning Spaces and East Wing projects and IT
equipment managed through the capital programme.
Note 3 : Assembly Grant in Aid – The figure of £925,000 is per the Remit Letter from the Assembly.
This grant is drawn down monthly in line with anticipated expenditure. The full amount of £925,000
had been drawn down as at the end of February.
Note 4 : Other Assembly Grant – The Museum has received additional funding from the Assembly
of £1m for SNHM Infrastructure Works which has been drawn down to the end of February and any
unspent funds can be contained within carryover by deferring the cash transfer from private funds on
capital projects. It also received additional funding of £1m in 2010-11 towards the SNHM
Redevelopment Project (with another £4m due over the next 3 financial years) and whilst all of this
money will be drawn down this year it will not be spent and the Assembly has given approval for
£800,000 to held and carried forward in the Museum’s bank account.
Note 5 : Carbon Trust Loan – The Museum is receiving an interest free loan from the Carbon Trust
to fund the installation of a Combined Heat Power unit at NMC. The loan will be repaid from the
resultant energy savings over a 5 year period. The loan will not now be drawn down until the next
financial year, albeit the expenditure will be completed this financial year.
Note 6 : Transfer from Private Funds – This is the approved allocation from private funds to finance
the capital masterplan. An amount of £114,000 has been transferred to the end of February. The
planned transfer excludes an amount which has been deferred to aid the carryover arrangements of
the Assembly SNHM infrastructure monies and some of the Redevelopment monies.
Note 7 : Other income – In the main this is income received via the fundraising efforts of the
Development dept (some of this income was received last year and will be transferred when the
expenditure has been incurred). It also includes income from the US Tour monies. An amount of
£364,000 has been transferred to the end of February.
Note 8 : Expenditure - Planned expenditure this year equates to £3.624m (in line with current project
planning) of which £2.841m was spent as at 28 February.
4. PRIVATE FUNDS
Cash
Accrued
Cash
Current
Actual to Actual to
Budget
28-Feb
28-Feb
£' 000
£' 000
£' 000
Note
3,654
Opening Balance
3,654
3,654
1,049
Total Income
1
538
533
(2,716)
Total Expenditure/Transfers
2
(2,328)
(567)
*
Investment Revaluation
3
135
135
(1,667)
In Year Movement
(1,655)
101
1,987
Closing Balance
4
1,999
3,755
Note 1 : Income – This mainly includes the budget target income for the Development dept of
£924,000 (excluding donation boxes) of which £391,000 was received at 28 February. The coin box
donations budget target was £80,000 but £82,000 has been banked as at 28 February (£74,000 in
February 2010).
Note 2 : Expenditure/Transfers – This is the planned expenditure from private funds amounting to
£2.716m. The majority of this spend is for the Capital Master Plan. As at 28 February there was
expenditure/transfers of £567,000.
Note 3 : Investment revaluation - The value of investments (valued at the end of February by
Barclays Wealth) shows an increase from 1 April 2010 of £135,000 (an increase of £23,000 from the
end of January). An amount of £40,000 was also transferred from cash to investments in April (being
the investment income received in 2009/10).
Note 4 : Balances - Total fund balances are £3.755m, consisting of £2.135m in investments and
£1.620m in cash. The funds can be split between Specific (£1.412m), Departmental (£1.575m),
General (£475,000) and Development Holding Account (£293,000).
25