Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells, gets refurb and facelift

The Wyeside Arts Centre, one of the town’s most culturally important and eye-catching structures, is now looking even more impressive, thanks to being shown some love by Craig Harris Decorating over the summer.

The work, which was part-funded by the town council, has seen the building’s famous red colours given even more vibrancy, with Craig using firecracker - a deep salmon red-orange- as well as fine cream on the exterior walls and anthracite.

Craig has preserved, removed any rot, applied a heat resistant primer, an undercoat and pro solvent topcoats, with the work completed in August.

“We are very lucky to have this venue and I'm sure the locals get how important it is to the town,” he said in a post on his Facebook page.

“What would Builth be without it?”

“The Wyeside Art Centre has a freshened up look,” added Builth Wells Town Council.

“The centre, which is a presenting venue for live and visual arts, cinema and satellite broadcasts, as well as hosting a multitude of community events, is looking great after external redecoration, part-funded by a grant from the town council.”

The exterior facelift matches what seems to be a rosier looking future for the building itself, after many years of uncertainty and financial struggle.

In February this year it was announced that £200,000 had been secured for Wyeside in the latest Welsh Government budget.

The money was secured as part of a deal between the Welsh Government and Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds.

The agreement revealed “funding for feasibility studies to support the development of the Wyeside Arts Centre”.

In June of 2024, meanwhile, we reported how grants, personal donations and vital support from local organisations had combined to allow Wyeside chiefs to keep the doors open.

Those associated with the iconic Powys venue said they had been “overwhelmed” by the waves of support received following a desperate plea for help in November 2023, when the prospect of finally shutting following years of financial struggle was described as a very real prospect.

(Image: Newsquest)

However, thanks to a number of substantial grants, central funding, a boost from subscriptions to its Friends of Wyeside scheme, plus around £10,000 that was raised from local bands performing at a fundraiser back in March last year, the stage was set for Wyeside to continue offering affordable access to the arts for local people.

“Many local organisations such as the YFC, the ladies choir and the Greyhound/Rotary quiz have raised funds, and we’ve had some very generous personal donations too,” said Wyeside general manager Jill Mustafa at the time.

“Subscriptions to our Friends of Wyeside scheme are on the rise. We’ve held several fundraising events including the bands day organised by Black Sheep Productions; the Best of Gilbert & Sullivan and Gershwin in Hollywood concerts; and an ELO (Electrik Live Orchestra) tribute band. 

“We can’t stress enough that it is this support that has enabled us to keep the doors open. A huge, huge thank you.”

Wyeside has also received around £60,000 from the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) via Powys County Council’s (PCC) arts service, as well as Levelling Up cash, also from the Shared Prosperity Fund.

For more information on Wyeside and its varied list of programmes and entertainment, visit www.wyeside.co.uk or check out the Facebook page.