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RCT Council to Bid for Funding for the Muni Arts Centre

Written by Gavin on 16th June 2021

The project to bring the Muni Arts Centre in Pontypridd back to life could benefit from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

The Rhondda Cynon Taf Council cabinet report said the project to redevelop the Muni Arts Centre, will “bring this prominent empty building back into productive use as a state of the art music and theatre venue in Pontypridd Town Centre.”

As reported on Wales Online, the Concept designs have already been completed by architects brought in by Awen Cultural Trust with phase one redevelopment works currently under way and current costs at £380,000 with £250,000 coming from Welsh Government and £130,000 from the council.

Full redevelopment costs are currently projected to be around £5.9m based on the appointed architects design team but will be subject to further change and development, the report said.

The levelling up fund bid will be for £5.31m which is 90% of the total development cost.

A report set to go before the council’s strategic culture and arts steering group on Monday, June 21 provides an update on the community asset transfer of the Muni Arts Centre to Awen Cultural Trust.

The report said an agreement to lease has been signed and there has been a successful application to the Welsh Government Targeted Regional Investment fund for capital funding for the first phase of the works worth £250,000.

Alongside an agreed contribution of up to £250,000 from Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, this will enable essential refurbishment works to be carried out which will enable the building to become operationally fit for purpose as a cultural arts venue, the report said.

Contractors have started work on site and will complete the phase one works soon.

When the refurbishment work is completed satisfactorily, then approval for a 30 year leasehold transfer of the Muni Arts Centre to Awen Cultural Trust will be granted along with a partnership agreement.

Awen Cultural Trust will then be expected to restart services and programming as soon as it can and in line with Welsh Government Covid-19 advice and guidance.

The council will retain responsibility for internal repairs over £8,000 per item and full responsibility for external repairs and maintenance for the building.

The council will provide an annual revenue funding contribution during the first five years of the re-development of the building to enable Awen Cultural Trust to re-build audience levels and confidence, develop a balanced commercial and community programme of events and activities.

This will enable Awen to mitigate against the unknown future impact of Covid-19 on potential audience levels, the report said.

If the bid for Levelling Up funding is not successful, the long-term lease will enable Awen Cultural Trust to apply for significant levels of capital funding to achieve proposals for the full redevelopment of the building.

The re-development aims to expose the original Gothic architecture, improve the building’s environmental sustainability and make it an easier building to maintain.

The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund (LUF) is set to invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport and investing in culture and heritage.