Audiences at The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre can look forward to a more comfortable, accessible and flexible venue in refurbishment thanks to a £400,000 grant from the Arts Capital Investment Fund.
The funding will be used to make improvements to the main theatre space, including:
- new seating
- refurbishment of the floor
- accessible ramp access
- increased wheelchair space
The grant will also fund a new retractable seating bank in the studio theatre, increasing its flexibility and comfort for performances, cinema screenings and community events.
The Arts Capital Investment Fund is managed by the Arts Council of Wales and Welsh government. It is supporting ambitions projects that will help protect valued cultural assets, improve accessibility, and create new opportunities for artists, audiences and communities.
Newport City Council, which owns the venue, will lead the refurbishment project in partnership with the venue operator, Newport Live. "The investment will protect a key cultural venue, make it a more comfortable and accessible experience for audiences and reduce future maintenance pressures,” said Councillor Emma Corten, cabinet member for culture and communications.
“Widening access to culture, and strengthening our cultural assets, are key priorities of the Newport culture strategy 2025-2035, and these works will help the Riverfront continue to engage with hundreds of thousands of audience members each year. The works will also enable additional capacity in the main theatre, and support additional income generation, while retaining the studio theatre's flexible use for cinema, community events, festivals, conferences and workshops."
Sharon Casey, head of theatre, arts and culture at The Riverfront Theatre said, “The Riverfront Theatre is at the heart of Newport’s cultural life, and this investment is vital to securing its future. With our auditorium seating now more than 23 years old, audience feedback has highlighted the importance to improve comfort and enhance the visitor experience.
“This investment will enable us to create a more comfortable, accessible and welcoming venue, opening the doors for even more people to experience everything The Riverfront has to offer. We are genuinely excited about this next chapter and the lasting difference it will make for our audiences, artists and Newport’s creative community.”
This investment marks an exciting new chapter for The Riverfront. Work is now underway behind the scenes, and we can't wait to share more updates with you as the project develops.
