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Three venues - The Met, Y Muni and Grand Pavilion - will benefit from Arts Council of Wales funding.
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Awen Cultural Trust has welcomed news of Arts Capital Investment funding to support improvements at three of its cultural venues across South Wales.
The investment, provided through the Arts Council of Wales and Welsh Government, will support the refurbishment of auditorium seating at The Met in Abertillery, blackout blinds and other venue improvements at Y Muni in Pontypridd and technical equipment for the Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl, which is currently undergoing major redevelopment.
Awen is among 58 arts organisations and venues to benefit from the first phase of the Arts Capital Investment Fund. The fund is supporting projects intended to protect cultural assets, improve accessibility, reduce environmental impact and create new opportunities for artists, audiences and communities.
The investment will strengthen Awen’s work with its three local authority partners: Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council at The Met, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council at Y Muni and Bridgend County Borough Council at the Grand Pavilion.
At The Met, Awen will refurbish the main auditorium seating. The current fixed and retractable seating system has been maintained for more than 20 years and is now showing significant signs of wear. The improvements will help protect the venue’s ability to continue presenting a varied cultural programme for Abertillery and the surrounding area.
At Y Muni, new blackout blinds will be installed in the Festri Bar, enabling the popular alternative performance space to accommodate a wider range of performances and events. The investment also includes other venue and technical improvements intended to support Y Muni’s developing programme and opportunities for local artists.
At the Grand Pavilion, Awen will purchase stage, sound and performance equipment to complement the major redevelopment of the Porthcawl venue. The equipment will support the creative and audience experience when the venue reopens and will enable Awen’s technical team to prepare and test key elements in advance.
Richard Hughes, Chief Executive of Awen Cultural Trust, said:
“We are delighted to receive this investment, which will benefit audiences, artists and communities across three local authority areas. Our partnerships with Bridgend County Borough Council, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council are central to our ability to protect and develop these important cultural venues. This additional support from the Arts Council of Wales and Welsh Government will help us build on those partnerships and ensure that each venue can respond to the needs and ambitions of its local community.
“Although the improvements are different at each venue, they share the same purpose: to improve audience experiences, increase creative opportunities and support the long-term sustainability of accessible, high-quality cultural provision across South Wales. We look forward to working with our partners to deliver these improvements.”
The investment reflects Awen’s collaborative, place-based approach to managing cultural venues. Each project responds to the specific needs of the venue and community, while contributing to a wider shared ambition to maintain welcoming, sustainable and high-quality cultural spaces.
The funding announcement forms part of a wider round of capital investment in arts organisations throughout Wales. The Arts Council of Wales received 81 applications during the first phase, with 58 organisations approved to proceed with their projects.
