Aberystwyth Arts Centre to reopen later this month

The Arts Centre, the largest in Wales, closed its doors to customers on 17 March 2020 due to the escalating coronavirus crisis.  A phased reopening planned for last autumn then had to be abandoned due to flood damage.

Despite the building being closed to the public for over a year, the Arts Centre has continued to offer a wide-ranging programme online. 

This has included virtual cinema screenings, two online film festivals, digital dance classes, and online arts quizzes.

In addition, two artists were awarded studio spaces in the Heatherwick Studios, and up-and-coming artists were able to receive tutorials with leading contemporary artists Bedwyr Williams, Ingrid Murphy, Angharad Pearce Jones and Suzie Larke.

Over the past few months, a number of improvements have been made to the building, including the installation of new flooring, the refurbishment of the Box Office, and the installation of a new projector in the Theatre. 

The Arts Centre has also improved its digital networks and upgraded to an electronic ticketing system. 

Director of Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Dafydd Rhys, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be finally in a position to be able to safely reopen our doors to our customers, and to welcome them to our stimulating programme of events and activities. 

“These are exciting times, as we look forward to our dance classes returning in-person on 14 June, followed by Stage School on 19 June, before reopening to the public on 21 June. 

“A full cinema programme of the latest releases has been planned and will be shown in the Theatre, with social distancing in place.  In our galleries, and indeed throughout the building, our Oriel Lockdown exhibition will feature works that have been created in, or reflect on, the pandemic.

“Families will be pleased to learn that over the school summer holidays we will be hosting a wide range of activities including dance; drama and arts and crafts for children (with the popular Criw Celf returning in-person); as well as weekend masterclasses for adults.

“We will also be offering a programme of outdoor summer events on Chapel Court, including theatre, music, and family events.”

“The safety and wellbeing of our customers and staff is paramount, and we have put in place a number of procedures to allow us to reopen safely and inspire confidence in our customers. We are proud to have gained the ‘Good to Go’ and ‘See it Safely’ kitemarks, which are industry-wide standards which guarantee that venues are following COVID protocols.  Until the autumn we will also be operating a ‘Book with Confidence’ scheme, allowing ticketholders to receive a no quibble refund if their attendance at an event is impacted by Covid-19. 

“We very much look forward to welcoming you back to Aberystwyth Arts Centre.”

Aberystwyth Arts Centre is a department of Aberystwyth University, situated at the heart of the University’s campus.  Wales’ largest arts centre, it is recognised as a 'national flagship for the arts'.  It has a wide-ranging artistic programme, both producing and presenting, across all art forms including drama, dance, music, visual arts, film and community arts and is recognised as a national centre for arts development.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Arts Centre has been successful in two applications to the Cultural Recovery Fund, the Welsh Government’s rescue and recovery package aimed at helping the arts sector in Wales to survive the COVID-19 crisis and to remain vibrant, financially viable and sustainable.