Dawn Bowden MS, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, and Chief Whip
This Statement updates on a number of changes to the Board at Amgueddfa Cymru- National Museum Wales and the proposed next steps.
Roger Lewis has announced his intention to step down as President of Amgueddfa Cymru at the end of 2022 having chaired its Board of Trustees since 2019. I want to place on record my thanks to Roger for his service to Amgueddfa Cymru, recognising the considerable progress the organisation has made during his tenure particularly during the challenges of the pandemic. Amgueddfa Cymru developed its 2030 Strategy for the future, published its widening engagement programme and played its part in the post-Covid healing process of our nation and St. Fagans was selected as the Art Fund UK Museum of the Year. Amgueddfa Cymru is well placed going forward and I look forward to working with Roger in the future.
I am pleased to announce that Dr Carol Bell, the current Vice President, has agreed to take on additional duties while we appoint a new President. Dr Bell is a well-established and experienced member of Amgueddfa Cymru’s Board, having joined as a Trustee in 2014 and becoming Vice-President in 2016. During her time on the Board, she has also taken on additional duties for over a year on a previous occasion. I have no doubt she will continue with her dedicated service to Amgueddfa Cymru in 2023.
With Carol’s second term in office also coming to an end next year, I will early in the new year launch a campaign to appoint both a new President and Vice-President at Amgueddfa Cymru. This will enable any emerging recommendations from the Tailored Review of the Museum to be reflected in the role description and person specification and for the new appointees to lead in taking forward the recommendations. The Tailored Review is currently under way and is due to report in spring 2023. I hope to see a strong and diverse field of candidates applying for these exciting opportunities. Further details will be made available when the campaigns are launched.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Carys Howell and Rachel Hughes whose second terms as Welsh Government-appointed Trustees of Amgueddfa Cymru come to an end at the end of the December. Their respective contributions to the Board have been invaluable during their time at the Museum. Two new Welsh-Government appointed Trustees will be joining Amgueddfa Cymru’s Board in January. Further details of new Trustees will be published shortly.