Ty Pawb Arts Council Wales grant funds Wrexham entrance plans 2026

Key Points

• A £72,000 grant is to be given to Tŷ Pawb in Wrexham from the Arts Capital Investment Fund that is administered by the Arts Council Wales and supported by the Welsh Government.
• This money will be used to carry out design work to improve the North Arcade and Flexible Space entrance of the market hall to make sure that there is a permanent space for art and play that still has the flexibility for events and markets.
• This design process follows a feasibility study done by the architects De Matos Ryan, who consulted the traders of the market, communities, local artists, and families, with the “Transform and extend” being their choice.
• Wrexham Council will be inviting tenders through Sell2Wales from 16 September 2026 until the design process is finished by March 2027.
• The Arts Council Wales and the Welsh Government have announced that this fund will open again on 17 September 2026 with an extra £2 million, making it worth £10 million in arts capital investment this year.

Wrexham (Wales Times) September 16, 2026 – Tŷ Pawb, uk/local/wrexham/">Wrexham’s multi-use arts and market venue, has secured £72,000 to develop designs for building enhancements focused on its North Arcade entrance and Flexible Space area, as part of the latest round of the Arts Capital Investment Fund announced by Arts Council Wales and the Welsh Government. The grant covers the initial design phase of a project intended to transform and extend these areas into a more welcoming, permanent art and play environment while preserving the building’s flexibility for markets, performances and community events.

As reported by Wrexham Council’s news service, the funding positions Tŷ Pawb among key Welsh arts organisations receiving capital support in this round, with the council now preparing to invite suitably qualified firms to bid for the design work via Sell2Wales from 16 September 2026. The design phase must be completed by March 2027, after which further funding can be sought for the construction stage if the project progresses successfully.

What is the Tŷ Pawb Arts Council Wales grant for?

The £72,000 Arts Council Wales grant awarded to Tŷ Pawb is designated specifically for commissioning professional design work to enhance two parts of the building: the North Arcade entrance and the Flexible Space area within the market hall. According to the council’s announcement, the objective is to “transform and extend this area of the building into a welcoming, permanent art and play environment while retaining flexibility for events and markets”.

This phase does not fund construction; instead, it supports the development of detailed designs that can later underpin a capital build application. As noted in coverage by Leader Live, the funding will support the initial design phase of the project, with potential for further investment in construction if the project progresses.

How will the North Arcade entrance and Flexible Space be improved?

The proposed improvements are based on a recent feasibility study, also funded by Arts Council Wales, which was carried out by award-winning architects De Matos Ryan. During that study, the architects held discussions with Tŷ Pawb’s key stakeholders and users, including market traders, community groups, local artists and families, to shape options for the site.

The feasibility study’s preferred option, titled “Transform and extend”, specified several key features: extending the entrance threshold towards Chester Street; creating a larger, more welcoming arrival experience; retaining the existing number of market stalls; improving visibility through the building; and providing adaptable spaces that support play, performance, exhibitions and events. These elements aim to strengthen the building’s role as both a daily market and a cultural hub without reducing trading capacity.

When will the design work take place and how will contractors be selected?

Wrexham Council has confirmed that an invitation to tender for the design work will be published on Sell2Wales from 16 September 2026. The council will seek bids from suitably qualified firms capable of delivering the required architectural and design services in line with the feasibility study’s recommendations.

According to the council’s statement, this phase of the design work is required to be completed by March 2027. Completion of the design stage by that date is intended to allow the project team to prepare for subsequent funding applications for the construction phase, should the designs be approved and deemed viable.

How does this fit into wider arts capital funding in Wales?

Tŷ Pawb’s award forms part of a broader package of capital investment across Wales. As reported by Arts Council Wales, the first 58 arts organisations in Wales have now been told they can proceed with their projects under the Arts Capital Investment Fund. The announcement also confirmed that the fund will reopen on Thursday 17 September at 9am, with an additional £2 million available to invest in arts capital projects, bringing the total arts capital investment from the Welsh Government this year to £10 million.

Other recipients in this round include venues and organisations such as Arad Goch in Aberystwyth, Ardour Academy in Cardiff, Sherman Theatre in Cardiff, Theatr Mwldan in Cardigan, the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven, the University of Wrexham’s William Aston Hall, and the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Penarth Pier Pavilion Cinema, among others. Tŷ Pawb is listed alongside these as a key venue receiving funding for capital projects at various scales.

Background of the development

Tŷ Pawb, which means “Everybody’s House”, operates as an arts centre, market and gallery in Wrexham city centre, combining cultural programming with everyday market trading. The building was redeveloped in a £4.5 million project involving refurbishment, two new galleries, performance areas, a gallery shop and market stalls, funded by the Welsh Government, Arts Council Wales and Wrexham County Borough Council. In recent years, the centre has continued to host exhibitions, concerts and community activities, while facing ongoing operational cost pressures noted in 2024.

The current grant follows a feasibility study focused on the North Arcade entrance and Flexible Space, carried out by De Matos Ryan with input from traders, artists and local families. That study’s “Transform and extend” option underpins the new design commission, aligning with Tŷ Pawb’s dual role as a working market and a cultural venue. The timing of the award coincides with Wrexham’s wider cultural ambitions, including its bid for UK City of Culture 2029, which has drawn significant local political and community attention.

Prediction: how this development may affect Tŷ Pawb’s audiences

If the design work progresses as planned and leads to successful construction funding, the enhanced North Arcade entrance and Flexible Space are likely to affect several audience groups. Regular market traders could benefit from improved visibility through the building and a more welcoming arrival experience, potentially increasing footfall without losing existing stall numbers. Families and children may gain from dedicated, permanent art and play areas that remain adaptable for events, supporting Tŷ Pawb’s role as a community-focused venue.

Local artists and cultural organisations could see more usable, flexible space for exhibitions, performances and workshops, strengthening the centre’s programming capacity. For visitors and tourists, a clearer, more inviting entrance towards Chester Street may improve navigation and first impressions, especially in the context of Wrexham’s cultural promotion and City of Culture 2029 ambitions. However, the extent of these effects will depend on the final design outcomes, the success of future construction funding applications, and how changes are implemented alongside ongoing market operations.