Maesteg Town Hall Secures Arts Council Funding

From this autumn, visitors to Maesteg Town Hall will enjoy even more theatre, live music, film and comedy events, thanks to grant funding from the Arts Council of Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Awen Cultural Trust, the new not-for-profit organisation which manages this much-loved venue in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council, has secured almost £30,000 which will help finance a year-long programme of cultural activity. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The grant will help deliver regular weekday drama for those retired or not in work; children’s theatre performances and workshops; professional theatre and music performances. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

These will support a more commercial programme of events including a professional pantomime and Frank Vickery’s autumn tour – two ‘firsts’ for the venue. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Richard Hughes, Chief Executive of Awen, said: “We are delighted that the Arts Council of Wales funding will enable us to put on a much more varied programme at the hall which we hope will inspire audiences, both local and from neighbouring valleys, to visit on a regular basis.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Charles Smith, the council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, added: “Awen was established as a not-for-profit organisation last October to protect and develop cultural services in the county borough in light of the significant financial challenges affecting all local authorities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is therefore very encouraging that Awen has been able to access this external funding so soon in their lifetime to offer this new programme of professional performances and workshops at a venue which is so intrinsic to the cultural life of the Llynfi Valley.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Maesteg Town Hall was built in 1881 after the miners of the Llynfi Valley agreed to levy a day’s wages towards its cost. The imposing four-storey stone building is topped by a prominent clock tower, a feature which is visible throughout the town. The hall is frequently used by local amateur societies and choirs, and also serves its local community by hosting weddings, conferences and other functions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​