FAQs

It is a charitable foundation established for the sole purpose of realising ambitious plans for the development of Cyfarthfa Castle and Park at Merthyr Tydfil into a museum and gallery of international quality, set in a wonderful park.

The creation of an independent charity is the only practical way in which to assemble the necessary funding – from governmental, national lottery, business, and charitable sources. The Foundation will establish an organisation whose sole focus will be the development of Cyfarthfa and other heritage assets in Merthyr to maximise the benefits for the community – economic, educational, social, environmental and cultural.

A charitable foundation is the most common structure adopted by sizeable organisations in the cultural sector – museums, galleries and other arts organisations – such as the `National Botanic Garden of Wales and the Wales Millennium Centre.

Yes, This was the Cyfarthfa Plan prepared by an international team led by Ian Ritchie Architects and landscape architects, Gustafson, Porter and Bowman. This was launched in January 2021, during the Covid lockdown.  It presented a high level 20-year vision for the Cyfarthfa area. The Foundation’s task now is to turn this vision into a detailed plan.

There is a lot of planning to be done, and money to be raised. This will take several years. We must be realistic and respond to national and international political and economic climate. The Board of the Foundation and a small team are already in place. Detailed studies are under way to determine precisely what needs to be done.

1.     to save the fabric of the castle which is in very poor condition
2.     to plan new exhibits to tell Merthyr’s powerful story
3.     to extend the art galleries
4.     to improve and extend the 160-acre park
5.     to fully engage the community in the process.

We already making the case for investment to the Welsh Government, the National Heritage Lottery Fund and other donors.  

It is essential that this project should be delivered with the close and active involvement of the local community. The masterplan contained many ideas designed to put the people of Merthyr Tydfil and the valleys region at the heart of the project – to ensure that it will be of the place, not just for the place. The Foundation is fully committed to making that a reality from the outset. As projects develop, we will ensure there are opportunities for discussion and iteration before decisions are taken.

We believe that the plan could generate millions of pounds in social and economic value annually, through direct, indirect and induced spending, and through participation in public programming. This will be realised in the form of new jobs, support for small businesses, and increased spending in the local economy as a result of increased tourism. Other elements will be social: for example, an expanded range of programming will help bring communities together, get people active and combat social isolation.

The development of Cyfartha Castle into a modern museum of international quality was estimated initially to cost around £50m however things change quickly, and it is important that we are responsible and realistic. We will be working on refining these costs. To put a single figure on the cost would be misleading, as it will depend on which elements are prioritised and over what timescale they are realised. 

This development programme provides a framework for investment from multiple sources in the public and private sectors, as well as other grant providers. The early support of the Welsh Government and the National Lottery Heritage Fund will be of critical importance, but we will also be looking to other sponsors, philanthropists, trusts and foundations.

The Welsh Government has already provided £1.2m to fund the initial preparatory work, plus a further grant to explore what role Cyfarthfa might play the in a pan-Wales National Gallery of Contemporary Art. It has also funded an Archives Study to identify relevant resources in archives across the UK.

A strong strategic plan created by the very best expertise available should give funders the necessary confidence to invest. The Foundation has already received two very substantial pledges of support from charitable foundations. 

No. Doing nothing is not an option. Merthyr and Wales cannot afford to see further deterioration of cherished historical structures that were central to our nation’s history. To do nothing could risk the loss of significant and cherished parts of our national heritage. Instead, this plan will give them new life in a way that will deliver real social and economic benefits.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council will continue to manage Cyfarthfa until the Foundation is ready to take full responsibility for Cyfarthfa Castle and Park. The transfer of ownership involves a complex legal process and requires funding to be in place before transfer is enacted. In the meantime, we have established a liaison committee that ensures close collaboration between the Cyfarthfa Foundation and the Council.