News – Welsh art review

A new report looking into the possibility of establishing a National Gallery of Wales and a National Centre for Contemporary Art has concluded that more than one new development is needed in order to fill current gaps in provision for the display of art in Wales. However, it warns against a forced and simplistic separation that would leave each unable to intelligently combine in its programmes. The study, commissioned by the National Museum Wales (NMW) and the Arts Council of Wales (ACW), and conducted by David Clarke and Peter Jenkinson, follows the Welsh Assembly Governments commitment to examine the potential for a National Gallery. The report concludes that, whilst a National Gallery is a legitimate aspiration for Wales, it should not be a Museum of Welsh Art, but rather it should embrace both Welsh and world art, and should probably be established as part of NMW, with a new building development linked to the existing Cathays Park site.
The development of a National Centre for Contemporary Art is seen as being best located within the network of regional galleries supported by ACW, but with enhanced facilities to enable Wales to participate more fully in international visual art and to realise the benefits of initiatives such as the Venice Biennale exhibitions. As part of a joined-up strategy for the realisation of one or both of the new national institutions, or as a development in its own right, it is proposed that priority should also be given to a research, archive and education centre for the visual arts in Wales, possibly with a higher education partner.