This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/north_west/8316049.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Art centre £15m grant announced | Art centre £15m grant announced |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A grant of £15m has been announced to help pay for an arts and innovation centre at Bangor University in Gwynedd. | A grant of £15m has been announced to help pay for an arts and innovation centre at Bangor University in Gwynedd. |
| The Welsh Assembly Government money will go towards the £36m needed to build the "science meets arts" space. | The Welsh Assembly Government money will go towards the £36m needed to build the "science meets arts" space. |
| The new building will replace Theatr Gwynedd, which closed last year, and supporters of the old theatre welcomed the news as a "positive" move. | The new building will replace Theatr Gwynedd, which closed last year, and supporters of the old theatre welcomed the news as a "positive" move. |
| But they cautioned that the new centre would have to "match or even improve" on the old facilities. | But they cautioned that the new centre would have to "match or even improve" on the old facilities. |
| The arts centre money is part of £120m in grants announced for 10 different projects under the Strategic Capital Investment Fund. | The arts centre money is part of £120m in grants announced for 10 different projects under the Strategic Capital Investment Fund. |
| Other projects include £20m for affordable housing, £3.5 for the Glyn Vivian Art Gallery in Swansea, £8m for the Childrens Hospital for Wales and £5.3m for a new school at Hendre, Caernarfon, Gwynedd. | Other projects include £20m for affordable housing, £3.5 for the Glyn Vivian Art Gallery in Swansea, £8m for the Childrens Hospital for Wales and £5.3m for a new school at Hendre, Caernarfon, Gwynedd. |
| Learning facility | Learning facility |
| The new art facilities in Bangor should be open by the spring of 2012. | The new art facilities in Bangor should be open by the spring of 2012. |
| University vice-chancellor Professor Merfyn Jones said the grant announcement was "tremendous news", and a "boost" for north Wales. | University vice-chancellor Professor Merfyn Jones said the grant announcement was "tremendous news", and a "boost" for north Wales. |
| "This funding together with additional European, arts council and university funds will allow us to move ahead with developing a fantastic new facility for the area," he added. | "This funding together with additional European, arts council and university funds will allow us to move ahead with developing a fantastic new facility for the area," he added. |
| Prof Jones said the new centre would provide more than just arts facilities for the whole community with a theatre, exhibition spaces, bar and cafe. | Prof Jones said the new centre would provide more than just arts facilities for the whole community with a theatre, exhibition spaces, bar and cafe. |
| "This will be a centre where science meets the arts, where students will learn new design skills to solve real-world problems, improving their job prospects and providing local businesses with innovative new talent. | "This will be a centre where science meets the arts, where students will learn new design skills to solve real-world problems, improving their job prospects and providing local businesses with innovative new talent. |
| The former Theatr Gwynedd in Bangor closed last year | |
| "It will make a significant contribution to the economic regeneration of the area and to our young people's future," he added. | "It will make a significant contribution to the economic regeneration of the area and to our young people's future," he added. |
| As well as providing a new home for the arts the centre will also include a new students' union as well as a variety of teaching and learning spaces. | As well as providing a new home for the arts the centre will also include a new students' union as well as a variety of teaching and learning spaces. |
| "This is a tremendously ambitious project and is one of the most exciting initiatives of its kind in Europe, if not the world," Prof Jones said. | "This is a tremendously ambitious project and is one of the most exciting initiatives of its kind in Europe, if not the world," Prof Jones said. |
| Ann Jones from the Friends of Theatr Gwynedd group, which campaigned to keep the old theatre open until the new facility was assured, said: "This is a positive thing, and we need to see facilities which are as good, if not better, than we had before." | Ann Jones from the Friends of Theatr Gwynedd group, which campaigned to keep the old theatre open until the new facility was assured, said: "This is a positive thing, and we need to see facilities which are as good, if not better, than we had before." |
| Some had claimed Bangor would be a cultural wasteland with no theatre, but a Pontio (Welsh for bridging) scheme has seen different arts event held at various venues. | Some had claimed Bangor would be a cultural wasteland with no theatre, but a Pontio (Welsh for bridging) scheme has seen different arts event held at various venues. |
| "What we are missing is the huge range of things we had before," said Ms Jones. | "What we are missing is the huge range of things we had before," said Ms Jones. |
| "We've missed out on the chance to see major companies coming here. | "We've missed out on the chance to see major companies coming here. |
| "Also the chance for schools to use the stage... we are looking forward to a new centre," she added. | "Also the chance for schools to use the stage... we are looking forward to a new centre," she added. |