What we hope to do

Extend the timeline

At the moment, St Fagans concentrates on the history of the people of Wales over the last 500 years. We will bring the national archaeology collections from National Museum Cardiff to St Fagans, to help us to tell the story of the first people to live in Wales 250,000 years ago and to place the story of Wales in the context of world history.

Create an all-weather attraction

As well as improving the open-air aspect, we will be developing the under-cover offer. The galleries in the main building will be totally refurbished to create new learning and exhibition spaces and a brand new structure will be built in the woodlands for visitors to experience Wales’s history and the nation’s treasures.

Events

There will be more activities and events to support the extended timeline with an emphasis on giving visitors a chance to take part. Visitors will also be able to experience open-air archaeology and we're keen to create opportunities for volunteers and to work closely with community groups.

Provide new routes into Welsh history

By suggesting new ways of navigating St Fagans and updating the interpretation around the site, we will be making it easier for visitors to find out more about specific aspects of Welsh history and plan their experience according to interests and time restraints.

Enjoyment

Our visitors are at the core of the project, and we will be improving facilities to try and provide the best possible experience. There will be safe places for our younger visitors to learn through play and new places to eat and meet. The under-cover improvements will make St Fagans a place to enjoy all through the year, whatever the weather.

The benefits for Wales

St Fagans is the second most visited open-air museum in Europe, attracting over 600,000 visitors a year. It has become the home of Welsh history - part of the fabric of Welsh identity and place to which many people from Wales and all over the world make a pilgrimage and expect to experience the story of Wales.

This 10-year investment will present a strong message of change and exciting new directions. It will reinforce the position of St Fagans as a must-see attraction for visitors to Wales - an essential element of Welsh heritage tourism that will benefit the whole of Wales.

Alongside Government backing, this bold new investment will also look for additional funding from the business community, grant-awarding bodies and private individuals who want to support Wales in the 21st century.