A MULTI-MILLION pound project to create a National Broadcast Archive for Wales that can be accessed in Aberystwyth has moved “a significant step closer” after attracting National Lottery support which could be worth nearly £5m.

The £9m project between the National Library of Wales and BBC Wales can now develop ambitious plans to provide public access to the BBC Wales archive at four digital heritage hubs in Aberystwyth, Wrexham, Carmarthen and Cardiff.

The archive has about 160,000 recordings, which date back to the 1930s.

The president of the National Library of Wales, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, said: “We are delighted that the National Lottery has provided initial funding to develop this pioneering project and ensure that the BBC Wales archive will be accessible for public use.

“As the home of the National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales, and with material from ITV Wales already at the Library, we intend to safeguard this vital source of our nation’s heritage for present and future generations.

“We are very grateful for the National Lottery’s support to develop our plans and to BBC Cymru Wales for transferring the archive to the Library.”

As part of a move to a new building in Cardiff city centre, BBC Wales is currently digitising around 160,000 radio and TV items which will be available for use by its production teams.

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