£4.4m Ruthin Craft Centre opens

Dec 3 2008 By Andy Davies

THE new £4.4m Ruthin Craft Centre was officially opened on Monday by heritage minister Alun Ffred Jones.

The centre is designed by award winning architects Sergison Bates and funded by a partnership between the Arts Council of Wales, Cadwyn Clwyd, Denbighshire County Council, Ruthin Town Council and the Welsh Assembly Government.

The minister unveiled a plaque commemorating the opening of the facility, which has received more than 45,000 visitors since August.

It has three large exhibition spaces, enabling it to fulfil its established role as a place where the highest quality contemporary craft is made as well as displayed.

There are six workshops for professional makers and two residency studios and a spacious education suite where people of all ages can learn more about the applied arts.

Other facilities include a retail gallery where work is for sale, a large cafe and the "cultural gateway" which provides tourist information and contains artists’ films that introduce visitors to the culture of Wales.

Councillor Raymond Bartley, Chairman of Denbighshire County Council said: "The council is delighted with the redevelopment of Ruthin Craft Centre and it is a prime example of how all the agencies involved have worked together to provide a first class facility for the contemporary applied arts."

Heritage minister, Mr Jones, said: "The Welsh Assembly Government believes in supporting the arts and we know that the new Ruthin Craft Centre will play an important role in the artistic and economic life of Wales."