(Title Image: National Library of Wales)
A proposed broadcasting archive for Wales – earmarked for the National Library in Aberystwyth – looks likely to be scrapped after the Culture Minister, Dafydd Elis-Thomas (Ind, Dwyfor Meirionnydd), withdrew an offer of a £1million Welsh Government contribution.
The project had already secured £5million of National Lottery funding in principle, but the Minister determined the business case wasn’t strong enough for him to support further investment.
The project proposes holding 160,000 recordings donated by BBC Wales, S4C and ITV Wales, with public viewing centres in Aberystwyth, Cardiff, Carmarthen and Wrexham.
The Welsh Government said, “Whilst we have expressed support in principle for the ambition of the National Library of Wales to establish a National Broadcast Archive for Wales, the Welsh Government will not be supporting the project in its current form.
“We have concerns that it could potentially risk the financial stability of the National Library in the long-term.”
