Redevelopment plans for one of Wales’ most popular arts centres have received a major boost with the announcement by the Arts Council of Wales of a £1.75 million Capital Lottery Award.

Cardiff’s Chapter Arts Centre will use the award as part of a £3.8 million investment in its thriving Canton site.

Peter Tyndall, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Wales, said:

"Chapter is one of Europe's leading arts centres, and offers a diverse mixture of performance, visual arts, cinema and participation. It's also the home for many artists and arts organisations.

These imaginative plans will improve the experience of Chapter for all of its many users, and the Arts Council of Wales is delighted to have been able to support them with a Lottery capital grant.  We are really looking forward to seeing the work completed and with greater access to the same rich mix of activity in greatly enhanced surroundings."

Construction work is planned to begin in April 2008 and as well as providing some overdue cosmetic surgery to the roof and general fabric of the building the ambitious project will also include major improvements to Chapter’s cinemas, theatre and gallery and open up its busy café-bar area.

Chapter will stay open throughout the building work presenting a full programme throughout the year both on and off-site. Plans are also in development to transform Chapter’s adjacent Stiwdio space to house a temporary café and bar with a flexible performance and gallery space on the first floor. 

The lottery grant takes the amount raised by Chapter to £2.2 million, which puts it well on the way to achieving its final goal.

The Culture Minister, Rhodri Glyn Thomas welcomed the grant, saying:

"This grant from the Arts Council of Wales is great news for Chapter and will allow for a range of refurbishments and improvements to the building. It comes on top of a £200,000 grant from the Welsh Assembly Government and will help to keep this much-loved community resource at the centre of Cardiff's cultural life."

Chapter is known and loved for the open space that they create for all their many and diverse users and the combination of radical new work that coexists with their community and creative focus. The centre also houses many small cultural businesses including providing a base for the twice Oscar nominated animator Joanna Quinn and the acclaimed dance company, Earthfall.

Chapter’s director Janek Alexander said:

"This award is fantastic news and an important milestone for us. It puts the total money we’ve raised past the halfway mark. The redevelopment of Chapter is the largest improvement scheme in the centre’s history and as well as the Arts Council‘s major commitment we have pledges of support from individuals, businesses and trusts."

He continued:

"People tell us they are contributing because Chapter plays an important part in their lives and they want future generations to experience the diversity and opportunities the centre offers. The project will safeguard Chapter’s future as we complete an ambitious programme of change to improve our facilities for the public."

Chapter will launch the new facilities with a month of special events in Spring 2009.