New National Museum Wales chief targets National Museum of Art and St Fagans plans

The new Director General of National Museum Wales has targeted the £9 million redevelopment of the country's St Fagans National History museum and the new National Museum of Art for Wales at National Museum Cardiff as his key concerns in his first week in the role.

Former Victoria and Albert Museum Director of Interpretation David Anderson has been meeting staff at the group’s seven sites ahead of the launch of Inspiring Wales, a new paper celebrating the Cardiff centre's achievements and laying out a blueprint for it to become "a world-class museum of learning".

"The National Museums are here to serve the people of Wales," he said, pinpointing the establishment of strong partnerships as being of "even greater importance in light of the country’s current financial situation."

"Progressing the St Fagans National History Museum project will be a priority for me, as well as affirming Amgueddfa Cymru [National Museum Cardiff] as a contemporary resource for Wales.

"I am very pleased to have the opportunity to lead such a highly regarded institution, which is at the forefront in terms of its collections, research and public programmes in Wales and internationally."

Speaking ahead of the launch, Welsh Heritage Ministed Alun Ffred Jones vowed to back the Welsh Assembly Government's pledge of free admission to museums.

"We are committed to making access to our cultural heritage as accessible as possible," he added.

"In the past year more than 1.6 million people have visited our seven national museums. I am delighted to see the positive results of this initiative."