James Saunders
Guest Reporter
First World War Prime Minister David Lloyd George's childhood home is set to be "decolonised" in a Welsh Labour-led diversity push.
Though Lloyd George was born in Manchester, the cottage in which he grew up in rural Wales has been converted into a museum - but now, it has been folded into a taxpayer-funded nation-wide "anti-racist" drive.
The museum in tiny Llanystumdwy, which honours Britain's WWI leader, has already worked with a "decolonisation consultant" to change its approach to history - while LGBT displays have also been pencilled in for future exhibitions as it undergoes "modernisation and reinterpretation" works.
The anti-colonial consultancy has been paid for by Welsh Government grants for museums to conduct work which will supposedly "set the right historic narrative" and "promote a multicultural, vibrant and diverse Wales".
But the plans have come under fire - not least from conservative commentator Iain Dale, who lamented how "this country is slowly going insane".
Staff at Gwynedd Council Museums, which runs the Lloyd George site, have also been handed "anti-racist" Welsh Government training as part of the same programme to alter how history is presented.
Now, the taxpayer cash will be directed to updating and modernising displays inside the museum, which comprises two sites: a main gallery building, as well as the cottage in which future hero of Wales - and only Welsh PM - Lloyd George was raised.
There is not yet a plan for any new displays on famed Boer War opponent Lloyd George - but those working on the project are understood to be advocating for more black and minority ethnic (Bame) stories to be told.
It is understood that consultancy was provided by "Re:Collections", an anti-racist project run by the Association of Independent Museums - which has been awarded grant funding by the Welsh Government.
MORE WOKE OUTRAGE:
Re:Collections advises museums to ensure that "Bame perspectives and experiences are treated as a natural part of the histories that museums document and explore".
It also urges museums to ensure that "collections, activities and exhibitions present a greater diversity of Bame perspectives, histories and experiences".
Meanwhile, the local Plaid Cymru-run council's museums service has indicated that, "if we come across any LGBT histories connected to the story we tell", they would also be included in future displays.
The plot to re-assess history at Lloyd George's former home is part of a broad programme by the Welsh Government to ensure libraries, galleries, museums and public artworks are "anti-racist" and present the "correct" historical narrative.
An anti-racist Wales culture, heritage and sport fund has been set up to support this work - under it, organisations will be able to claim as much as £15,000 in grant funding for each anti-racist scheme.
Andrew RT Davies MS, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: "As NHS waiting lists hit seven consecutive record-breaking months, this utter nonsense of meddling with our history continues to be Labour's focus.
"Labour's anti-racist Wales action plan has become a distraction from the people's priorities."
A Welsh Government spokesman said: "Our anti-racist Wales action plan is built on the values of anti-racism and calls for zero tolerance of all racial inequality.
"We funded the AIM Re:Collections programme which helps museums deliver the goals of our anti-racist Wales action plan.
"The action plan emphasises the importance of representing and reflecting the history and culture of black, Asian and minority ethnic people to ensure that their contribution to Wales is recognised."
Find Out More...
Though Lloyd George was born in Manchester, the cottage in which he grew up in rural Wales has been converted into a museum - but now, it has been folded into a taxpayer-funded nation-wide "anti-racist" drive.
The museum in tiny Llanystumdwy, which honours Britain's WWI leader, has already worked with a "decolonisation consultant" to change its approach to history - while LGBT displays have also been pencilled in for future exhibitions as it undergoes "modernisation and reinterpretation" works.
The anti-colonial consultancy has been paid for by Welsh Government grants for museums to conduct work which will supposedly "set the right historic narrative" and "promote a multicultural, vibrant and diverse Wales".
But the plans have come under fire - not least from conservative commentator Iain Dale, who lamented how "this country is slowly going insane".
Staff at Gwynedd Council Museums, which runs the Lloyd George site, have also been handed "anti-racist" Welsh Government training as part of the same programme to alter how history is presented.
Now, the taxpayer cash will be directed to updating and modernising displays inside the museum, which comprises two sites: a main gallery building, as well as the cottage in which future hero of Wales - and only Welsh PM - Lloyd George was raised.
There is not yet a plan for any new displays on famed Boer War opponent Lloyd George - but those working on the project are understood to be advocating for more black and minority ethnic (Bame) stories to be told.
It is understood that consultancy was provided by "Re:Collections", an anti-racist project run by the Association of Independent Museums - which has been awarded grant funding by the Welsh Government.
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Re:Collections advises museums to ensure that "Bame perspectives and experiences are treated as a natural part of the histories that museums document and explore".
It also urges museums to ensure that "collections, activities and exhibitions present a greater diversity of Bame perspectives, histories and experiences".
Meanwhile, the local Plaid Cymru-run council's museums service has indicated that, "if we come across any LGBT histories connected to the story we tell", they would also be included in future displays.
The plot to re-assess history at Lloyd George's former home is part of a broad programme by the Welsh Government to ensure libraries, galleries, museums and public artworks are "anti-racist" and present the "correct" historical narrative.
An anti-racist Wales culture, heritage and sport fund has been set up to support this work - under it, organisations will be able to claim as much as £15,000 in grant funding for each anti-racist scheme.
Andrew RT Davies MS, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: "As NHS waiting lists hit seven consecutive record-breaking months, this utter nonsense of meddling with our history continues to be Labour's focus.
"Labour's anti-racist Wales action plan has become a distraction from the people's priorities."
A Welsh Government spokesman said: "Our anti-racist Wales action plan is built on the values of anti-racism and calls for zero tolerance of all racial inequality.
"We funded the AIM Re:Collections programme which helps museums deliver the goals of our anti-racist Wales action plan.
"The action plan emphasises the importance of representing and reflecting the history and culture of black, Asian and minority ethnic people to ensure that their contribution to Wales is recognised."
Find Out More...