Minister Leighton Andrews Joins Musicians to Lay Foundation Stone
L-R: Prof John G Hughes (Vice-Chancellor); Lord Elis-Thomas (Chancellor of 成人VR视频); Leighton Andrews AM (Minister for Education and Skills, Welsh Government) and Chris Webster (Chief Executive of Miller Construction).The foundation stone for Bangor鈥檚 new arts and innovation centre will be laid today (Friday) by Leighton Andrews AM in a creative and musical ceremony.
The Minister for Education and Skills will be joined by pupils from Ysgol Tryfan鈥檚 jazz and brass band and soloists Rhys Meirion and Huw Ynyr for a unique performance in hard hats on the building site.
The 拢44m Centre being delivered by Miller Construction will offer state-of-the-art facilities to meet the needs of local communities and businesses. It will host a range of innovative cultural, artistic and community activities designed to promote collaboration, discovery and learning, making a unique contribution to the regeneration of Bangor and to improving skills.
It will receive 拢27.5m of capital funding from the Welsh Government and European Regional Development Fund, as well as funding from the Arts Council of Wales and from the University itself. It will provide a theatre, studio theatre, cinema, design and innovation studio, teaching and learning facilities and a new Students鈥� Union as well as associated bar, caf茅 and public spaces.
成人VR视频 Vice-Chancellor, Professor John G Hughes said: 鈥淭his is going to be a focal point for the local community and the University alike 鈥� a place to meet, learn and be entertained as well as a home for innovative research, design and learning. It will be a unique place with the potential to transform Bangor.鈥�
Leighton Andrews said: 鈥淚 am delighted to play a role in the inauguration of this major new development, and to lay the Foundation Stone of what will undoubtedly become an iconic building.
鈥淚 am always pleased to highlight and celebrate Welsh success, and I am confident that this significant development 鈥� which the Welsh Government has supported 鈥� will provide a major boost to the arts and to innovation not just within the University, or in Bangor, but in the region more generally.
As a former student of this university, it is exciting to see the developments that have taken place over the last three decades.鈥�
Pontio鈥檚 artistic director Elen ap Robert said:
鈥淲e want to spark people鈥檚 imagination today on the building site by giving a flavour of things to come. The centre will be home for all sorts of creativity, from drama and cabaret to aerial theatre and classical concerts.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 inspirational musicians will all perform in hard hats and showcase the best of home-grown Welsh and international music.
鈥淭o coincide with the event, some of Bangor schoolchildren鈥檚 鈥楽eeds of Ideas鈥� will be visible on the hoardings to the front of the site. These ideas, expressed by young people from all of Bangor鈥檚 11 schools, boldly reflect their aspirations for the new centre鈥�.
Publication date: 10 January 2013