A project celebrating the rich heritage of cricket in Wales is
one of six cultural schemes to receive funding from the Welsh
Government.
More than £246,000 will support the Museum of Welsh Cricket,
based in Sophia Gardens, for their project ‘Cricket has been,
and still is, a game for everyone'.
The exhibition celebrates the deep culture and history of
cricket, highlighting the contributions of women, LGBTQ+ people
and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. The funding is
being used to improve the collections' care, add new technology
and create public art murals.
The Cultural Transformation Capital Grant Programme helps
organisations preserve collections for future generations, as
well as improve accessibility and sustainability. More than
£10.5m has been provided since the grant was launched in 2017.
Supporting local museums is a key part of the Welsh Government's draft
Priorities for Culture, a strategy which aims to ensure
culture is resilient, and local heritage is supported to thrive
and be sustainable for future generations to enjoy. The strategy
is currently out for consultation.
The new Minister for Culture, , who visited the Museum of
Welsh Cricket yesterday to hear more about the project receiving
Welsh Government support, said:
“Culture and heritage are crucial to Wales. From telling the
important stories of our past to celebrating the Wales we live in
today and the Cultural Transformation Programme is central in
helping organisations do exactly that.
“This exciting project at Museum of Welsh Cricket shows the
importance of representing and engaging with everyone from
different backgrounds and how people are brought together through
culture.”
Mark Frost, Glamorgan Cricket Community and Development Manager,
said:
"Glamorgan Cricket is striving to make sure that there is a warm
welcome for everyone at Sophia Gardens and importantly every
person feels at home and has all they need to make their visit a
good one. As part of our Equity, Inclusion and
Diversity Plan we want to make sure that the museum and
stadium look like the whole community that we are reaching out
to.
“We know that to further improve this experience we need to make
sure that the imagery around the museum and the whole ground is
more representative of the people that play cricket today. We are
determined to make sure that anyone walking into the ground sees
imagery, photos and designs where they can see people like
themselves and therefore can believe that the welcome is
authentic and that 'cricket is a game for me'.
“We are very grateful to the Welsh Government for the grant for
the museum and stadium at Glamorgan Cricket which will transform
the look and feel of Sophia Gardens and we are especially excited
that the designs will be co-produced together with many of our
community groups in particular partner schools."
Other projects receiving funding include £300,000 for the
refurbishment and modernisation of Cwmbran Library, and almost
£300,000 heading to the Egypt Centre at Swansea University for
the redevelopment of the House of Death ground floor gallery.
Awen Cultural Trust is receiving around £130,000 for the Betws
Library Modernisation Project; Ceredigion County Council will
benefit from £210,000 for the development of the new Aberaeron
Library, and Denbighshire Council is receiving over £82,000
improve the main exhibition room at Plas Newydd in Llangollen.
The Minister added:
“Culture and heritage play an important role in our communities,
including our health and wellbeing. I'm pleased to have awarded
this funding for local museums and libraries which do so much to
preserve and share local heritage.”
