National Slate Museum transformational redevelopment

Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales has been awarded £12m by The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) for the redevelopment of the National Slate Museum, Llanberis which sits in the heart of The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales UNESCO World Heritage Site, and will protect the future of the museum for generations to come.

The NLHF grant is a significant milestone in the plans to redevelop the National Slate Museum, meaning that work on the redevelopment can move forward to the next stage, and guaranteeing the future of the museum and the globally significant story of the North Wales slate industry.

The Grade 1 listed building in Llanberis has been home to the National Slate Museum since 1972 when it was first opened to the public after the closure of the Dinorwig slate quarry in 1969. Works at the museum will transform the experience for visitors and create a sustainable future for this internationally significant site. The redevelopment work will retain the essence of the industrial workshops which sit at the heart of the UNESCO WHS in North Wales, while sharing and celebrating the global story of how slate from this small corner of North West Wales was used to ‘roof the world’.

The redevelopment will create a new learning centre, play area, shop and café, as well as improving accessibility throughout the site and creating more opportunities to discover and enjoy the slate story through new exhibitions and interpretation.

The local community will be at the heart of the project, helping to shape the story and the visitor experience. The Welsh language – spoken by 100% of the staff at the National Slate Museum – will be embedded at all stages of the project, continuing to celebrate how the slate industry helped the language to both survive and thrive in North Wales.

As well as conserving the historic fabric of the site and the collections and stories, the redevelopment will contribute to the regional economy, offering employment opportunities, student work placements and traineeships.

The funding will also enable the site to continue to develop its role as a living museum by offering training and opportunities for people from all backgrounds to enjoy, learn about and develop endangered traditional heritage skills. This will not only help to keep these skills alive for future generations, but will also enhance visitors’ wellbeing and help to connect people and communities to the slate landscape.

Image: Visual of the new Learning Centre and Cafe at the National Slate Museum © Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales