St Davids, Pembrokeshire - Deep concerns are mounting over the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority's (PCNPA) proposed reconfiguration of Oriel y Parc Landscape Gallery, a landmark cultural venue in St Davids. The plan would see the gallery's world-class art exhibition spaces repurposed into a National Park Discovery Centre, effectively downgrading its original mission to showcase Welsh artistic heritage and fine art from the National Collection.
Built with £3.3 million in public and EU funding, Oriel y Parc was purpose-designed as a premier venue to celebrate the landscapes and artistic richness of Wales. It serves as the permanent home for works by renowned British artist Graham Sutherland and has previously hosted exhibitions featuring Constable and other greats, drawing tens of thousands of visitors and benefiting local schools, families, artists, and the wider tourism economy.
Campaigners fear that turning away from its original artistic focus would not only undermine the building's architectural integrity but also betray the vision that brought it to life.
"How can a gallery thrive when it is no longer given the opportunity to showcase the art it was built for?" ask organisers of the campaign. "The recent decline in visitor numbers is not due to waning interest in art, but rather a lack of ambitious fine art programming since 2018."
Tegryn Jones, Chief Executive of PCNPA, stated in a BBC Wales Today interview on March 27, 2025:
"The gallery has to change... audience tastes develop during that time. I think we would be rightly criticised if we hadn't evolved and tried to meet the needs of current visitors and current residents."
While campaigners agree that evolution is necessary, they argue that the solution is to revitalise - not repurpose - the gallery's fine art offering. They are calling on PCNPA to restore the full Class A gallery space for its intended use and to collaborate with the National Museum of Wales and the wider arts community to reinstate a dynamic, high-quality art programme that reflects the gallery's founding vision.
A petition has been launched urging PCNPA to:
Art is for everyone, and Oriel y Parc must remain a place where people of all ages and backgrounds can access the inspiration and wonder that world-class exhibitions provide.
Sign the petition and help ensure Oriel y Parc remains a beacon of art for generations to come.
The Petition - https://chng.it/VJg5XvsDWQ
About the Pembrokeshire Landscape Gallery Working Group:
The Pembrokeshire Landscape Gallery Working Group is a collective of artists, residents, educators, and cultural advocates committed to preserving and promoting Oriel y Parc's role as a world-class art gallery. We are working to ensure the gallery continues to showcase significant fine art, including works from the National Collection, and remains a vibrant cultural hub for the community and visitors alike.
Contact:
Pembrokeshire Landscape Gallery Working Group Co-ordinator: Nicola Schoenenberger
Email: pembsgallerygroup@gmail.com
Petition: https://chng.it/VJg5XvsDWQ
Image credit: Jack Jones
Photo Gallery (click to view in full)
