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Art centre £15m grant announced Theatre among £120m grant package
(about 1 hour later)
A grant of £15m has been announced to help pay for an arts and innovation centre at Bangor University in Gwynedd. Ten projects across Wales are to benefit from £120m in grants from the Welsh Assembly Government.
The Welsh Assembly Government money will go towards the £36m needed to build the "science meets arts" space. The most significant projects include £20m for affordable housing, and £15m for an arts and science centre in Bangor University, Gwynedd.
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 Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery, Andrew Davies, said investing in the projects would bring huge economic benefits.
But they cautioned that the new centre would have to "match or even improve" on the old facilities. It would also give the construction industry a boost, he added.
The arts centre money is part of £120m in grants announced for 10 different projects under the Strategic Capital Investment Fund. "This is an innovative and exciting way of investing in capital projects and brings huge benefits in the current economic climate," said Mr Davies.
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. "As well as providing high quality public services, these projects will give a much-needed boost to the beleaguered construction industry, as we estimate they will create or support over 3,000 jobs during the construction process," he added.
Learning facility LIST OF PROJECTS £20m for affordable housing£35m for the Ebbw Vale Learning Works (including school/sports/leisure and arts centre provision)£12m for the Taf Ely Learning Campus£5.3m for school buildings in Gwynedd£10m for three emergency strategic co-ordination centres£15m for an arts and science centre at Bangor University£8.5m for a new emergency care centre at Prince Charles Hospital£8m for the Children's Hospital for Wales£3.5m for the Glyn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea£975,000 for eco-lighting at 17 monumentsSource: Welsh Assembly Government
The new art facilities in Bangor should be open by the spring of 2012. Nick Bennett, chief executive of Community Housing Cymru, welcomed the money and said it was proof of the "economic role that social housing plays in Wales".
In Bangor the money will go towards the £36m needed to build a "science meets arts" space to replace the old Theatr Gwynedd theatre building which closed last year.
The new art facilities should be open by the spring of 2012.
'Fantastic facility'
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 Theatre campaigners are delighted with the planned new centre
"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, of 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.
"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.
"Also the chance for schools to use the stage... we are looking forward to a new centre," she added.