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The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama has gained planning permission to create new facilities at its base in Cardiff Castle Grounds. Plans include a 400-seat Music Pavilion for use by the College and the wider community, and new theatre spaces. The former Cardiff Castle Mews, now known as the Anthony Hopkins Centre, will be placed in a new courtyard setting by the creation of a public College Square, accessible from both North Road and Cathays Park. Edmond Fivet, Principal said: "We are delighted to have the support of the City and are now on course to become a first-class conservatoire of international standing. Our students have produced some excellent work in our current venues, but we need to keep apace with the competition, and with the changing demands of the profession. The new facilities will provide superb teaching and learning opportunities and will not only benefit those choosing to study in Wales but will also allow the College to compete effectively across the UK and on the international stage." The Prince's Foundation Director for Architecture and Design, Ben Bolgar, said: "The proposed scheme has had to respond to a complex urban setting and client brief. The resulting design is a testament to the major collaborative effort between the architect, the college, The Foundation and the wider community. This will be an important civic building and a superb asset for members of the public and the Royal Welsh College." The music pavilion will be a unique musical venue in the Park which will act as a catalyst for renewed cultural activity along the eastern side of the Park, in an area that is currently poorly utilised. Not only will it provide students with a most attractive place to learn and perform, but it also has the potential to become a rehearsal and performance venue for amateur and professional groups. Lord Mayor Russell Goodway said the scheme will play an important part in Cardiff's bid to become European Capital of Culture 2008: "This exciting development could become the Welsh Glyndebourne in terms of the ambience of the pavilion and its setting," he said. "Importantly, it also opens up a part of the park which is rarely visited. It will add a completely new dimension to Cardiff's cultural programme." Building work will be phased over a number of years with the music pavilion likely to be the first phase and to cost in the region of £6 million. A fundraising campaign is underway. The project design team, led by world-renowned architects John McAslan & Partners, has created the estates master plan with the College and other partners over the past two years. |
| Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama web site: www.rwcmd.ac.uk/news/index.cfm |
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Thursday, November 21, 2002 |
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