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An ambitious, community-led, plan to transform the 100-year-old Caerphilly Workmen’s Hall into a fully-fledged cultural hub has been boosted with a £270,000 Welsh Government grant.

Community Interest Company Cynefin Caerffili is working alongside trustees of the Grade II listed building on Castle Street to bring the plans to fruition.

It is hoped the hall can be a free-to-access public cultural space with other facilities, such as cinema screens and studios – akin to Cardiff’s Chapter Arts Centre.

The £273,879 from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Strategic Grant will go towards developing a business case and development options for the hall as well as supporting Cynefin’s programme of activities at Y Banc on Cardiff Road – the old Barclays Bank building.

Y Banc provides space for other creative CICs such as RecRock, and has hosted many events such as animation nights, film screenings, and puppet-making workshops.

Wife and husband Ceri and Emlyn Davies, of Caerphilly animation company Bomper Studio, are part of the driving force behind Cynefin Caerffili alongside arts industry veteran Sally Griffith, volunteer trustee at Caerphilly Workmen’s Hall Paul Pole, and musician Jane Coles.

Ceri said: “As creators and residents, we want to create an arts and cultural venue that we can all be proud of which provides a place to meet, eat, make and see amazing films and performances.”

Jayne Bryant MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, said: “It’s fantastic that through the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme we’re able to support Cynefin Caerffili’s vision for this historic building.

“Projects like this, rooted in local creativity and community need, are vital to ensuring our towns remain thriving places where people want to live, work and spend time.  

“It was great to meet the team behind the project earlier this year. I was inspired by their vision and look forward to seeing the building again when the work has been completed.”