Denbighshire County Council has welcomed news that the Scala Cinema and Arts Centre in Prestatyn has been awarded a prestigious environment award.
The facility was one of ten entrants in the Community Benefit category of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Wales awards held in Wrexham last week and made the final four shortlist before being announced as the category winner. Ruthin Craft Centre also made the shortlist.
The RICS Awards are internationally well established and are a high profile set of Awards within the built environment industry.
The Scala 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.
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.
The RICS citation reads: “Scala is a wonderful example of dedicated people with the vision and the heart for the arts working together with public bodies to save a much loved building and see if regenerated for the benefit of the community. The owners of adjoining properties have refurbished their properties and the whole area has been economically regenerated because of the scheme.
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 second honour within six months is a feather in the Scala’s cap and reaffirms the fact that the building is a facility for the local community.”
