The Assembly's Heritage Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas says he will discuss the idea of setting up a Welsh Gallery of Contemporary Art in Newport when he visits the City shortly to look at the site of the new University Campus in the City Centre.

Newport West AM Rosemary Butler questioned him in the Assembly earlier today during his report on Priorities for the Heritage Portfolio,  and invited him to come to Newport and visit the site of the new campus which will be the  base for the University's Art Department.

She reminded him that the National Museum, the Arts Council of Wales and the Assembly Culture Committee are all in favour of Wales having a new Gallery of Contemporary Art.

"Can I invite you to come to Newport to meet the Vice-Chancellor of the University who's very keen that his new arts complex in the middle of the city of Newport will perhaps house the Gallery of Contemporary Art", she said.

"Would you like to come along and discuss that with him and with the leader of the council. I am sure that in your next report you will be able to say that you are going to deliver on a Contemporary Art Gallery and it will be in Newport."

"I've already accepted an invitation from the leader of Newport Council to  come along," said the minister, "and he's very enthusiastic about the project they have there."

" I'm happy to come along and talk about it, and we can discuss the gallery at the same time."

Tuesday October 2