New Arts and Innovation Centre for Bangor

Bangor University has welcomed the Welsh Assembly Government's announcement of £15m funding towards the exciting and ambitious new Arts and Innovation Centre at Bangor.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Merfyn Jones said: "This is tremendous news and a wonderful boost for north Wales. This funding together with additional European, Arts Council and University funds will allow us to move ahead with developing a fantastic new facility for the area.

"It will include greatly improved arts and other facilities for the whole community including a theatre, exhibition spaces, bar and café.

"This will be a centre where Science meets the Arts, where students will learn new design skills to solve real-world problems, improving their job prospects and providing local businesses with innovative new talent. It will make a significant contribution to the economic regeneration of the area and to our young people's futures."

Other facilities will include a new Students' Union for the University as well as a variety of new teaching and learning spaces incorporating wireless internet access which will be available for the local community as well as the University.

"This is a tremendously ambitious project and is one of the most exciting initiatives of its kind in Europe if not the world," added Professor Jones.

The University has already conducted a feasibility study on the £36m project and is ready to move ahead with preparing a design as soon as the remaining funding is confirmed. In addition an announcement on the architects selected to lead the project is expected soon.

Once funding is confirmed, the site preparation work can begin and the new centre is expected to open in Spring 2012.