AN attraction in the UK could soon be forced to close following an extensive budget cut.
The National Museum Cardiff is at risk of closure because of its deteriorating condition.
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Last year, Conde Nast Traveller crowned Cardiff as the UK’s best city thanks to its “exciting independent restaurants, buzzy bars, and up-and-coming neighbourhoods.”
The news about the museum’s potential closure came after Museums Wales revealed that its budget had been cut by £4.5m by the Welsh Government.
Museum Wale’s grant has been cut by £3million, and it has also incurred a year-on-year deficit of £1.5million, meaning it will have a £4.5million deficit by the end of March.
Ms Jane Richardson, Chief executive of Museum Wales told BBC Radio Wales of the “extremely difficult” task of trying to deal with the budget reduction.
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She added: “It’s been extremely difficult for my whole team to make a change on that scale within a matter of weeks.”
In addition to the budget cut, Ms Richardson detailed other problems facing National Museum Cardiff, including the condition of its building, as reported by BBC News.
She said: “Unless we’re able to secure more funding for that building that that will have to close.”
“I mean we would obviously then be looking at where else we could have a presence in Cardiff.
“And, you know, there’ll be all sorts of conversations about how we did that.
“But we are really clear as an organisation that that building needs urgent critical work for us to be able to continue opening to the public.”
The museum could soon start charging visitors for special events, tours and exhibitions.
Fans of the museum were “rendered speechless” by the news that Cardiff could soon lose a popular tourist attraction.
One person wrote on Facebook: “It would be a national tragedy if the wonderful National Museum in Cardiff were to close.”
Another person added: “It’s actually rendered me speechless.”
Someone else wrote: “It is unacceptable, that museum has been a source of education and enjoyment for so many people.”
It is thought that at least 90 people will lose their jobs because of the cuts.
A spokesperson from Museum Wales said: “Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales currently has no plans to close National Museum Cardiff.
“However, the deterioration to the roof of the museum is significant. We’re therefore in discussions with Welsh Government to secure capital funding specifically for building maintenance.
“Amgueddfa Cymru has not made any compulsory redundancies at present.
“We are however, undertaking a voluntary severance scheme due to cuts to our funding. We’re working with staff and Trade Unions to ensure we avoid any compulsory redundancies whenever possible.
“As discussions with staff are still ongoing, we’re unable to confirm the number of voluntary redundancies at this time.
The Cardiff museum houses a number of important items, including paintings by Vincent Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Francis Bacon.
There are other priceless artefacts on display at the museum, including a 220-million-year-old fossil, which was discovered by a four-year-old at a beach in south Wales.
Other events include dinosaur sleepovers, which are set to run in early May.
Guests will be invited into the museum for the evening where they’ll be given a snackbox, provided with activities and even a film screening.
Visitors will then sleep at the museum before being woken up for breakfast and a family workout session.
I’ve been lucky enough to live in Cardiff and often head back to the city for a weekend break, so I know some great places to eat, including Curado – a tapas bar with small plates from just £4.
Other independent restaurants include the Potted Pig, and the Pen and Wig, and Cardiff Market is another great spot to grab some grub.
The Welsh capital is also home to plenty of watering holes too, including the UK’s very first Tiny Rebel pub.
Other pubs I always visit include The Cambrian Tap and the City Arms.
There are plenty of other attractions in city too, including Cardiff Castle and the Cardiff Arcades.
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Meanwhile, St David’s in Pembrokeshire is the smallest city in the UK and it’s home to some gorgeous beaches including Whitesands and Caerfai Beach.
And, in North Wales, Colwyn Bay, in Denbighshire, has been named as a hidden gem thanks to its golden sands and a wide variety of water sports.
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