A Cardiff-based children’s theatre and Wales’ flagship national arts centre are among 40 organisations to share in an £8 million investment in building and regeneration works.

Theatr Iolo and Wales Millennium Centre (WMC) join fellow performing arts spaces such as Sherman Theatre and Theatr Mwldan as recipients of the Capital Investment Fund Grants — with the north Wales theatre, conference centre, and arena Venue Cymru bagging one of the biggest chunks in support, with a £1 million grant.

Announced today (Friday 5 September) by Arts Council Wales (ACW) and the Welsh government, the funding round received 68 applications after opening for submissions in June.

Charities such as Community Music Wales and contemporary arts studio Elysium Gallery, as well as development drivers like Literature Wales, have all been named recipients, as well as heritage site Newbridge Memo and the Blackwood Miners’ Institute, which was only saved from permanent closure earlier this year.

Dafydd Rhys, chief executive of ACW, said: “The response from the sector demonstrated the real need for this funding to maintain and develop our important venues and enable creativity and community to flourish the length and breadth of Wales.

“It is clear there is a need to maintain and improve these important buildings whilst also enhancing the environmental sustainability of these venues. In a strong round, we are heartened to see so many exciting plans for the future, including those we couldn’t support this time. We thank the Welsh Government for making this fund available and look forward to tracking the impact of the funding as these projects are rolled out.”

‘Unwavering commitment’ to supporting Welsh sector

In September last year, the Welsh parliament, the Senedd, pledged £1.5m in support for ACW, the previous year having signalled its intention to cut support for the arms-length body by 10.5%.

At the time, then Welsh culture secretary Jane Hutt had said the government had “listened to concerns regarding the financial pressures facing our cultural and sporting institutions”.

The Capital Investment Fund, which closed for applications on 2 July this year, followed the release of Wales’ Priorities for Culture plan, which vowed to keep the nation’s sector “thriving” and “properly-resourced” with a “long-term, strategic plan for investment”.

Organisations were encouraged to apply for projects looking to enhance, improve, and maintain their current venues and buildings; to cover the costs of feasibility studies for strategic capital works; and for the purchasing of equipment and facilities, particularly those considered more environmentally-conscious.

The 40 successful applicants have all received varying sums, with WMC set to pocket £739,125 for its ambitions, and spaces like Aberystwyth Arts Centre securing £400,000.

Minister for Culture, Jack Sargeant, said his government recognised “the arts sector needs flexible support to meet the challenges of the 21st century”.

“This £8 million investment demonstrates our unwavering commitment to supporting Wales’ vibrant arts and culture sector,” he commented.

“From iconic venues like the Wales Millennium Centre and Pontio Arts Centre, through important regional organisations like Venue Cymru, Canolfan Ucheldre in Holyhead and the Elysium Gallery in Swansea, to community treasures such as the Grand Pavilion Porthcawl, Blackwood Miners Institute and Theatr Mwldan, the 40 organisations who have been awarded funding represent the beating heart of cultural life across every corner of Wales.”