After a sixteen-month long refurbishment programme, Chapter Arts Centre, in Canton, is officially launching its newly refurbished facility on 24th November in the presence of First Minister Rhodri Morgan – and everyone is invited.
Visitors to the newly revamped arts centre will see the results of the £3.8 million development designed by renowned architects Ash Sakula.
The redevelopment has opened up its entrances, refurbished its cinemas, theatre and gallery and features an impressive 60 foot lightbox that spans the whole of its frontage. The lightbox will provide a changing canvas for new commissions from artists born or based in Wales. The first artist to showcase their work in the lightbox is the internationally acclaimed Bedwyr Williams.
The new look interiors of the centre have been created by Welsh designers, Angela Gidden, MBE, and dance and visual artist Marc Rees. Their scheme draws on three main influences, the centre’s school heritage, its 1970s roots and sustainability. All three of these themes are reflected in Chapter public areas with original 70s wallpapers, salvaged school furniture and classics such as the DSW chair by Vitra designed by Charles Eames.
New additional spaces to the arts centre include the Dutch table area, to be used for meeting and informal debate and the cwtch, which will offer a smaller more intimate space for people to gather, or work.
In order to reach its goal, Chapter has had an ambitious fundraising target of £3.8 million including a £1.75 million Capital Lottery Award from Arts Council of Wales. The remainder has been raised through charitable foundations, grants and public contributions. The last two years has seen a number of fundraising initiatives rolled out by the centre to reach the final target including, adopting a builder, a sponsored spin-a-thon and releasing four limited edition prints.
Janek Alexander, director of Chapter, said: “After just 16 months of building work the new arts centre has come to life this autumn. And we are able finally to let you see what the sketches and drawings could only hint at, a building that is thrillingly new and comfortably familiar.
“We think it’s all been worth it. Every second pouring over plans, working with architects, builders and designers, all the dust, mayhem and what seemed at one time to be a never ending string of false fire alarms!
“Together we’ve created the arts centre of tomorrow, to ensure new opportunities for artists and extraordinary experiences for today’s visitors – whether it’s the Cardiff Festival of Creative Technology, Experimentica, Sŵn music festival, Iris film prize or any of the hundreds of events and workshops each month.”
For more than 38 years Chapter has been regarded as one of the most successful multi-disciplinary arts organisations in the UK and a major centre for the contemporary arts in Europe. As a result many famous faces have stepped forward to show their support for the famous arts centre during its redevelopment including, artist Pete Fowler, animator Joanna Quinn and award-winning film director Mike Leigh.
Nick Capaldi, Chief Executive for Arts Council of Wales said:
“Chapter is not only a much-loved community venue but is also one of Europe’s leading art centres offering a diverse mixture of performance, visual arts, drama, film and participation. It’s also a home for many artists and arts organisations. This imaginative refurbishment will greatly enhance the experience of Chapter for all of its many users and Arts Council of Wales is delighted to have been able to support the venue with a Capital Lottery Award.”
Alexander continued: “Feedback we have had so far has been really positive. Regulars say that even though Chapter is now new and improved it hasn’t lost its feel and the essence of what makes it so special to a lot of people. We hope people are pleased with what has been done as it’s their centre and we want them to enjoy it and to celebrate the opening with us.”
Chapter’s open launch celebration will start at 6:30pm on the 24th November and visitors will be able to experience performances from Marc Rees, Eddie Ladd and Bedwyr Williams as well as a collection of performances by Chapter’s own staff.
The event will be hosted by broadcaster and leading arts figure, Nicola Heywood Thomas and there will be speeches from First Minister Rhodri Morgan, Arts Council of Wales Chair, Professor Dai Smith and Chapter’s founding members Christine Kinsey and Mik Flood.
Chapter has a full programme of events programmed across the coming year including a major exhibition of new and recent works by the Irish artist Alan Phelan, a series of international theatre collaborations and a daily offering of the best of independent and world film.
