'My memories of Theatr Clwyd in Mold and hopes for the future'
When I visited in a hard hat back in January, the main theatre was nearing completion and excitement for the coming months was building. So it was fantastic to be back again last weekend, standing outside the transformed building watching representatives of the 300 local community groups who meet in the theatre perform and celebrating with them the £50m redevelopment of a north Wales cultural institution.
What I enjoyed most was everyone there had a story about what the theatre means to them. The full re-opening of the building is happening gradually. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
The curtains have raised and fallen on the first in-house production for the new-look theatre, and the unveiling of the restaurant and bar (in partnership with Welsh chef Bryn Williams) will happen over the next few weeks. But it's already impossible not to be impressed by renowned architects' Haworth Tompkins' redesign that makes the most of the theatre's hilltop setting.
Since being appointed Culture Minister, I have stressed that every person in Wales should have the right to access, create, participate in, and see themselves reflected in the cultural activity of our nation. This is what Theatr Clwyd has always delivered and our investment will only build on this legacy.
What struck me on Saturday was the variety and diversity of the groups who call this building home. The community members attending were aged between nine and 95 and represented a fraction of the 6,840 people with whom the theatre's creative engagement team work every year.
On completion the redeveloped building will see more beneficiaries from this outstanding programme with dedicated spaces for increased referral work with NHS, Social Services, housing associations and local refugee charities.
There will also be increased facilities for heart Clwyd Music Trust through whom over 3,000 pupils every week, across 74 schools in Flintshire, are learning to play a musical instrument. This is important to Theatr Clwyd, and it's important to me and to the Welsh Government, which is why we've invested over £26m to secure the future of this flagship national arts venue whose doors are wide open to the local community.
It's vital that young people are given a gateway to culture from an early age. As I said earlier, for me - and thousands of fellow North Walians - Theatr Clwyd was our first introduction to live theatre. I also remember how proud I felt as an eight-year-old going with my Ysgol Bryn Deva classmates to watch our own film (about a missing guinea pig) being screened in the theatre to celebrate Welsh Cinema Day.
Once work is complete, Theatr Clwyd will be a sustainable building: completely fossil fuel and gas free and able to harvest solar energy and rainwater from its external walls and roofs. It is also going to help sustain the local creative workforce, creating a minimum of 100 additional permanent jobs and tripling its economic contribution to north-east Wales (estimated to reach over £20 million per year following the redevelopment).
I haven't even begun to talk about the extra training and apprenticeship opportunities for the tourism, hospitality and theatre sectors. We should be proud of the top tier arts venue we have on our doorstep. Proud, and expectant.
Because the new look Theatr Clwyd will be the setting for first-time cultural experiences, community action and world-class productions for generations to come.
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