People's History Museum - the fight goes on

Rhodri Glyn Thomas, as I discovered when I hosted a visit of his to Merthyr to discuss Arts provision, is an affable and able politician who seems prepared to listen.

His announcement today, however, of WAG’s proposed "People’s Collection" shows that however willing he might be to lend and ear, wider WAG priorities will not allow delivery on the original ‘People’s History Museum’ proposal.

In a pamphlet on the subject, published some two years ago now, backed by trade unionists in particular, I called for a new departure by the National Museums and Galleries for Wales – namely the establishment of a new museum, telling the story of the working people of Wales. I argued, and still contend, that there is a huge gap in our interpretation of the People’s Story. Where do we learn about working class people’s contribution to our social landscape through the movements they built? Where is the showcase for the chartists, the Suffragists, the Trade Unionists and the Co-operators?

I had hoped, back then, that by now we would be launching our new museum’s exhibition on the birth of the NHS 60 years ago. Socialised health care, though midwived by Bevan, was born in the social struggles of thousands, as far back as a century before his NHS bill came into being.

Rhodri Glyn’s proposal is a positive move – but as a web-based ‘portal’ only, it is a pale shadow of the original demand, which has of course received cross-party support in the Assembly.

The history of the working people of Wales has a great unifying theme – no one ever gave them anything – they had to fight for it all. It seems that even the dignified public re-telling of their incredible story will need to be fought for.