New lease of life for Ebbw Vale Institute (From South Wales Argus)

New lease of life for Ebbw Vale Institute

9:40am Monday 9th March 2009 in Search By Natalie Crockett

THE oldest institute in Wales will reopen as an arts centre for community use thanks to a £290,000 Assembly cash boost.

The recently regenerated Ebbw Vale Institute (EVI) will open for public use at the end of March.

The Grade II listed building dates back to 1849 and is now home to a range of facilities including a theatre, dance studio, gallery, recording room and rehearsal space for musicians to practise.

Business facilities will also be available at the Institute, including a conference suite, and it will also be available for hire for events including weddings.

A new environmental hot water transfer heating system is also due to be installed, which will reduce the building’s running costs by 50 percent and cut down emissions.

The interior refurbishment of the formerly disused building was made possible after ProMo-Cymru - a social enterprise agency working to bring the building back to its former glory - received a £290,000 grant from the Heads of the Valleys’ sustainable regeneration fund.

Blaenau Gwent council’s executive member for regeneration, Cllr Don Wilcox said: “The refurbishment of Ebbw Vale Institute into an arts and cultural centre is excellent news for Blaenau Gwent.

“The transformation of this Grade II listed building will breathe new life into the area and fits in with our regenerations plans for Ebbw Vale - the new refurbished institute will help revive Church Street.”

The Assembly's deputy minister for regeneration, Leighton Andrews, said: “The Ebbw Vale Institute is an important historical building in the area and plays an important part in many local people’s lives. With investment and regeneration of this nature it should continue to do so for many years to come."

Scheme's aim to regenerate valleys

The Heads of the Valleys Programme is a 15 year regeneration project, led by the Welsh Assembly Government, working to benefit communities in Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf. Aimed at stimulating regeneration, economic growth, and environmental improvement, the £140 million programme is making the Heads of the Valleys an increasingly successful and attractive area for people to live and work