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arts & culture Neath’s £9m Gwyn Hall opens


Neath’s Gwyn Hall arts and cultural venue has officially opened, following the comple- tion of a £9m transformation of the building undertaken by the local authority. Te venue was damaged in


an October 2007 fire while undergoing a £4m revamp, but has now been revitalised under plans drawn up by Holder Mathias Architects. Morgan Ashurst and


Swansea-based John Weaver have been involved with work to create the new arts centre, which features a ground-floor theatre with retractable seating. Te Grade II-listed building also includes


Neath’s Grade II-listed arts venue has been restored to its former glory


a cinema with digital and 3D capabilities and full dressing and changing facilities, as well as a box office and a public café bar. Neath Port Talbot Council leader Ali Tomas said: “Te new Gwyn Hall is a truly


modern arts and cultural venue which will inspire generations to come.” Gwyn Hall, which first opened its doors to


the public in November 1889, will be operated by Celtic Community Leisure on behalf of the local authority. It was listed in 1989. Details: http://lei.sr?a=L0X8l


£400k Paisley arts centre refurbishment starts


Renfrewshire Council has announced the start of extensive renovation work at an arts venue in Paisley, which will cost £400,000 and is expected to take nine months to complete. Paisley Arts Centre, which is housed in a former church building in the town centre, is


run by the local authority’s arts and museums service and will benefit from repair work. Council leader Brian Lawson said: “Te res-


toration of the arts centre will maintain its role at the heart of Paisley’s cultural scene.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=h5P5B


Damien Hirst unveils public gallery vision


Damien Hirst, one of the UK’s most prominent contempo- rary artists, is proposing to open a public gallery hous- ing his personal collection in south London in 2014. Te artist told the Observer


newspaper that the Lambeth development would display highlights from his own col- lection, which encompasses more than 2,000 art works. Hirst said the Caruso St


John-designed attraction will transform a terrace of listed buildings and will be as large as the Whitechapel Gallery, accommodating a total of six galleries, a café and a shop. Among the artists whose work could be dis-


© CYBERTREK 2012 Hirst told the Observer the gallery will be used to display his collection Hirst told the Observer: “It’s a place to show


played in Hirst’s gallery are the late Francis Bacon and iconic graffiti artist Banksy.


my collection of contemporary art. It feels bad having it all in crates.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=x5G5Q


Twitter: @leisureopps Most theatregoers believe the Olympics will help


Study: West End theatres set for Olympic boost


A new study carried out by UK theatre website whatsonstage.com has found that London’s West End theatres could stand to benefit from the 2012 Games. Last December, composer Lord Andrew


Lloyd Webber – whose Really Useful Group owns seven venues – expressed concern for the sector in an interview with the BBC. However, the whatsonstage.com survey


of more than 32,000 theatregoers found that 66 per cent anticipate a positive impact from the capital hosting the 2012 Games. Details: http://lei.sr?a=s2c1O


Brent cultural centre proposals go on show


Plans for a new cultural facility in Willesden Green, north west London, have been put on display at a public exhibition by Brent Council and developer Galliford Try. Members of the public had the opportu-


nity to view the Willesden Green Cultural Centre plans on 9 and 10 March, with the new building scheduled to open in 2014. Facilities will include a museum, a spe-


cial exhibition gallery and a community gallery, along with creative cluster spaces. Work is due to begin in September. Details: http://lei.sr?a=F5S5J


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital 11


New E1.6m arts centre launches in County Clare


Jimmy Deenihan, Ireland’s minister for arts, heritage and the Gaeltacht, has unveiled a €1.6m (£1.3m) cultural facility in Kilkee’s redeveloped library, County Clare. Teatre and exhibition space accommo-


dating 110 people form part of the 8,299sq ſt (771sq m) complex, with the transformation work funded by Clare County Council. Funding also came from the Department


of Environment, Community and Local Government; Deenihan’s department; and the Charitable Commissioners of Ireland. Details: http://lei.sr?a=p5A9K


image: 16 miles of string/flickr


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