Regeneration

More than £750,000 of funding will be provided to help local libraries and museums develop their facilities and services, the Welsh Government has announced.

The funding, which will be delivered as part of the Transformation Capital Grant Scheme, will support Wales’ local libraries and museums to "develop and revitalise" their facilities.

There will be a particular focus on widening access, partnership working, decarbonisation, and developing sustainable services.

The fund will be used to refurbish and modernise six libraries: Penygroes Library, Dyffryn Ogwen Library in Gwynedd, Rhymney Library in Caerphilly, Pencoed Library in Bridgend, Port Talbot Library and Barry Library.

Funding will also be provided towards and Newport Museum and Art Gallery’s decarbonisation project, and to enable Monmouthshire County Council to ensure the preservation of, and future access to, their collections through work at the Shire Hall.

Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden said: “The Welsh Government remains committed to supporting these important services that fulfil a valuable role at the heart of community life. 

"This fund will widen access for our communities, promote cultural engagement, provide learning opportunities and support community cohesion, sustainability and prosperity.

“I encourage everyone to see what their local museum, archive or library has to offer.”

A Cornwall theatre has launched an audience support scheme to support local music and performing arts.

The Friends of The Acorn scheme will see residents become a ‘friend’ of the Penzance theatre through an annual donation.

Funds raised will go towards supporting the local community, through initiatives such as discounted theatre space hire for local groups and bursaries for children and young people to take part in the venue’s community classes.

Friends will also receive notice when The Acorn’s new shows are listed and an e-newsletter of behind-the-scenes information.

Theatre Manager Richard Cawley says the launch of the scheme follows a difficult two years for the charity.

“[Friends of The Acorn] gives our supporters, who love the shows we put on, a way to regularly support us and become part of The Acorn family.”

Wiltshire Council is seeking expressions of interest from cultural organisations to run Salisbury City Hall.

The hall closed in March 2020 and has since been used as a vaccination centre. The NHS will continue using it until September, at which point the council could hand it over.

It says it doesn't want to sell the building and hasn't ruled out reopening the venue itself, even though "the financial climate is challenging at the moment".

"If we decide to do that we have to ensure the venue is sustainable and will be there for the long-term."

It will hold discussions with possible operators over the coming months.

Plans for the UK's largest entertainment venue have been approved against objections from locals and rival operators.

The MSG Sphere will have a 21,500-person capacity, dwarfing the neighbouring Olympic Park in Stratford, east London. A planned two-hectare LED screen has rankled residents who would see its advertising from their homes up to 16 hours a day. A petition against the project received more than 2,000 signatures.

The London Legacy Development Corporation voted in favour of MSG's application last week. London Mayor Sadiq Khan still needs to give final approval to the project.

Rival venue operator AEG said a new venue should not be located so close to existing venues: "It is imperative that MSG’s proposals do not add to congestion or overcrowding in the area, including on the public transport network."

MSG expressed its pleasure over the approval.

"Throughout this process we have worked closely with a wide range of stakeholders, and are grateful for their collaboration, which is reflected in our detailed proposal."

Doncaster Council plans to invest £560,000 in improving heritage sites across the borough.

£450,000 is earmarked to turn Doncaster’s former Museum and Art Gallery into a multi-use space for heritage events and archive facilities.

Works to restore Doncaster Grand Theatre and the city’s St James Church are also planned.

Funds are available through the Doncaster Towns Deal Heritage project. More than £2m of match funding has been raised to support the renovation projects.

Doncaster Council Senior Projects Manager Neil Armstrong says it is an exciting opportunity to revitalise key heritage assets.

“[It] will lead to significant transformation, which should be embraced.”

Kirklees Council is being urged to put a proposed second option for its town centre cultural development out for public consultation.

Think Tank Same Skies recently argued that a temporary scheme that offered free rents of empty shops to local arts groups should be extended. The piazza is to be demolished as part of the £210m 'cultural heart' plan.

It says the council should put its idea to the public: "Why not explore both options side by side?"

Architects have just released mock-ups of the council's plans for the area, which include a 2,200 seat concert hall.