The Scala Cinema and Arts Centre, Prestatyn has been honoured with a special recognition for its community based facilities.
Trustees were presented with a National Panel Special Recognition award by the Civic Trust at an awards evening held at St George’s Hall, Liverpool.
The Awards were established in 1959 and celebrate not only design excellence but also the relationship between structures, places, the environment and communities.
The Award citation for the Scala reads: “The strength of this project is its strong community base in providing a multi-role facility whilst preserving a well regarded part of the local heritage. The state of the art form production facilities are extensively utilised by local schools and colleges. Community involvement is ongoing and the Scala is stimulating the formation of special interest groups in the community”.
The facility was developed by Denbighshire County Council, with support from Prestatyn Town Council, Arts Council of Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government. The Council also worked closely with the Friends of the Scala, led by Chair Sandra Pitt, in developing plans for the new facility and seeing them come to fruition.
Councillor Rhiannon Hughes, Chair of the Scala Board of Trustees said: “The Scala is a prime example of how all the agencies involved have worked together with the local community to turn around the fortunes of the building and create a facility of which local people can feel proud.
“The former Scala closed in 2000 due to structural problems and the local community said they wanted to building to be restored. That work began in 2007 with the building officially opened in 2009.
“To be awarded this special recognition in the Civic Trust Awards is a feather in the Scala’s cap and reaffirms the fact that the building is a facility for the local community.”
Facilities at the Scala include two 150 seat digital cinemas (one permanent, one that seating can be moved to create a performance area), cafe bar, meeting rooms and exhibition space.
