Major redevelopment of National Slate Museum gets major funding boost
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The National Lottery Heritage Fund is investing £14.8m in eight projects that showcase the breadth of industrial heritage across all four nations.
Amongst the awardees is Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru - National Slate Museum in Llanberis, which has been awarded £412,565 of development funding.
It plans to transform the museum into a world-class visitor attraction at the heart of the Wales Slate Landscape, which became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2021.
The development funding will enable the museum to progress the plans and apply for a full grant of £9,440,414 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund at a later date.
The project, led by Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales, will conserve and improve the condition of the built heritage, transforming it to become an UNESCO World Heritage site
interpretation hub, creating spaces to support traditional skills, learning and wellbeing.
The funding is part of a wider £19m redevelopment scheme which aims to enable these stories of the slate industry and landscape to reach a wider audience in North Wales and beyond.
Jane Richardson, Chief Executive for Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales, said: "We’re thrilled to have been awarded this funding and we are extremely grateful to The National Heritage Lottery Fund. This will transform, not only our museum, but the way we can tell the story of the world heritage slate landscape of North West Wales.
"This funding marks a milestone in the museum’s history and will enable us to connect with communities across Wales and the world.
“Through the development of new creative spaces, we will be able to bring the national collection and new exhibitions to North Wales for the first time. We will also create opportunities for people from all backgrounds to enjoy, learn and develop traditional craft skills, increasing employment, wellbeing and better connecting people and communities with our fantastic collections.”
Andrew White, Director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales, added: “Nearly three years since it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a pivotal time for our Welsh Slate Landscape, so it’s exciting to see plans take shape for Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru - National Slate Museum to be at the heart of telling its story and continuing its industrial legacy.
“We’re pleased to award this funding to enable those plans to be developed and we look forward to seeing how this project can transform the museum for visitors, how people can get involved in shaping their heritage and how communities in Northwest Wales and beyond will benefit.”
Location: Llanberis
