Enhancement of equipment-based research and conservation capability for Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales.

The National Museum of Wales (operating as Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, ACNMW) is a multidisciplinary museum with sites across Wales, which holds over 5 million objects and specimens, of which 2.2 million, relevant to this AHRC Capability for Collections Fund (CapCo) call, held in the archaeology, art, history (social and Industrial) collections. We have a proven track record of enhancing collections through conservation and research activity and ACNMW is the premier center for collection-based conservation and research in Wales. As such our resources are an important Welsh National facility, supporting not only ACNMW, but also organizations across Wales. This is particularly pertinent within Wales where few such resources are available. Enhancement of our equipment will not only support our own collections, through training students and up-skilling volunteers, but also support collections across Wales, and the analytical support we provide to the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Wales, and reporting under the Treasure Act (1996). Sustained cuts to our grant-in-aid has impacted on our ability to update key items of equipment, to support research and conservation. While we have been able to replace smaller items of equipment (e.g. up to £10,000), reductions in capital funding have impeded replacement of more expensive items many of which are now around 30 years old, and further items, which are 10-20 years-old, and are heading toward obsolescence. Outdated equipment undermines our strategic aims to increase access to collections to a wider audience through exhibition and outreach (with emphasis on co-curation), research (in particular through collaborative research with diverse partners), and physical and digital access for both researchers and a wider range of users. Facilities we have been able to upgrade or develop (e.g. Gweithdy collections study spaces, St Fagan, National Museum of History and specialist natural science collection DNA and imaging facilities) have been funded by external support, such as the Clore Duffield foundation and Heritage Fund, or by specialist expertise and equipment-supported contract research income generation. Under the new Directorship of Dr Katherine Davies, the Collections & Research Division is reviewing its research capability and working to better match resources (staff expertise, equipment and funding streams) for greater impact and more focused outcomes to deliver the Vision and supporting strategies. A formal review of research project has been completed and a Research Manager is in the process of being appointed. Enhancement of our research and conservation capability would be further enhanced by funding from this call to renew parts of our equipment base. We request equipment in four operational areas, Art Conservation Studio, Digitisation Studio (2-D imaging), Imaging Laboratory (imaging of 3-D objects, including 3-D scanning), and the Materials Laboratory. The later is dominantly concerned with processing archaeological objects and materials, but also supports the social and industrial history collections. We are requesting a total of £895,699 to support 4 major pieces of equipment, a suite of microscopes and 8 other pieces of medium scale equipment. We will develop new income generating plans to support maintenance of this equipment and contribute to future succession plans.