The Museum of Welsh Cricket at Glamorgan County Cricket Club are thrilled to have been awarded a Priorities for Culture Capital Grant from the Culture Division in Welsh Government. The aim of the project is to support the decarbonisation of the Museum and increase access for neurodiverse visitors.
The award will enable the installation of an energy sub-meter so that the Stadium’s staff can monitor energy usage within the Museum and its Galleries, besides assessing the potential for the installation of solar panels in the future. In addition, a series of digital totems will be installed in the Museum and the Glamorgan Cricket Heritage Gallery supporting neurodiverse visitors to engage with heritage through an immersive and meaningful experience when they visit the Museum which tells the story of cricket in Wales, as well as the proud history of Glamorgan County Cricket Club who, since 1921, have been the flagbearers for professional cricket in Wales.
On hearing of the grant award, Dr. Andrew Hignell, the Museum’s Curator said, “we are very pleased to have further financial support from the Welsh Government as we upgrade the Museum here at the Sophia Gardens Stadium. This work follows on from the Welsh Government Transformation Capital iGrant investing in more inclusive interpretation and improved wayfinding for the Museum. Indeed, a recent report by consultants commissioned by Sporting Heritage CLC said that our upgraded facilities were ‘a credit to cricket and a credit to Wales’.”
“Although we have received some excellent feedback for the first phase of the Project, we are not resting on our laurels, as we know that some of our visitors, especially the neurodiverse, are still not benefitting from the re-fit. Our exciting plans for the second phase of the re-fit Project will address this shortfall.”
“Getting additional information about our energy usage will help us address future challenges, separately we will be providing extra and relevant learning material for school groups who already visit the Museum to learn about how sustainable sporting stadia could be created under a warmer and wetter macroclimate.”
In announcing the Priorities for Culture Capital Grant awards, the Culture Minister, awards, the Culture Minister, Jack Sargeant, said: “Our local museums, libraries and archive projects are vital community assets serving as visitor attractions, providing valuable resources for schools plus health and well-being hubs for the whole community.”
“This fund will help protect them into the future, and it will do so with a focus on my priorities – improving access and facilities for visitors, diverse communities, families and young people. Enhancing collection care and digital access, besides developing the sustainability of the local culture sector.”