National Museum to reopen after mechanical fault
A major Welsh museum that has been plagued with maintenance problems will reopen on Friday after it fixed a mechanical fault.
It is not known what specifically caused officials to suddenly shut the National Museum on Sunday, with the organisation blaming a problem in an "isolated area of the building".
The organisation has warned for years of a backlog of works needed at the Cardiff site, one of Wales' earliest national institutions.
Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales - said it had completed "essential maintenance work" and that maintaining the aging building is an "ongoing challenge".
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The museum said at the weekend that it had to shut the building to the public because of a "mechanical issue caused by a component failure in an isolated area of the building".
It is not known publicly what the mechanical issue, or component failure, was. The museum has so far not responded to requests from BBC Wales to explain more.
Chief executive, Jane Richardson, said: "Like so many institutions across Wales and the UK, managing and maintaining aging buildings is an ongoing challenge.
"I would like to thank all our staff and suppliers who have been working night and day to resolve the issue to help minimise any disruption to our visitors.
"We are also extremely grateful for all the heartfelt support, patience and understanding from the public during this period and we are looking forward to welcoming you all back."
The Welsh government gave assurances last year that the National Museum, which opened the Cathays Park building in 1922, would remain operational.
An extra £3.2m was provided for emergency repairs at the museum and the National Library of Wales last July.
But Amgueddfa Cymru warned it would "not go far enough", with an estimated £25m needed for critical urgent repairs.
Labour's Welsh Secretary, Jo Stevens, said she was "satisfied that the reasons for the closure were necessary".
"So I don't think this is about a long term issue. This is about a very specific problem that occurred within the museum."
In December 2023 Jane Richardson told a Senedd committee that the museum was struggling to keep up with "critical works".
"At Cardiff in particular we have a major problem with our mechanical, electrical and plumbing works there that, if we can't get those addressed, we will struggle to function."
In a topical question on Wednesday Culture Minister Jack Sargeant said he had been assured that the contents of the building was safe.
But Heledd Fychan, of Plaid Cymru, said "chronic under investment" by the Welsh government was putting national collections at risk.
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