CULTURE
NORWEIGAN CHURCH
Harbour Drive, Cardiff Bay
029 2087 7959
www.norweiganchurchcardiff.com
During the coal boom years of the 19th
and early 20th century, thousands of
Norwegians came to Cardiff to trade
timber for use in the pits of South Wales.
This handsome church provided them
with religious and social care. Having
recently undergone renovation, it is
now a thriving museum and arts centre
which hosts a range of art exhibitions
and performances throughout the year.
PIERHEAD BUILDING
Cardiff Bay, Cardiff
08450 105500
www.pierhead.org
Having loomed over Cardiff for 113
years, the Pierhead building has recently
undergone a revamp . It now offers a
glimpse into Cardiff Bay’s past through
its interactive gallery, and hosts a range
of stimulating and engaging debates
and talks.
PONTARDAWE ARTS CENTRE
Herbert St, Pontardawe
01792 863722
www.pontardaweartscentre.com
Boasting a theatre, dance studio,
cinema, snooker hall, meeting room and
art gallery, the Pontardawe Arts Centre
has gained a reputation as one of the
finest cultural venues in South Wales. Its
theatre hosts professional work of the
highest calibre, whilst its cinema shows
everything from art-house films to the
latest blockbusters.
THE RIVERFRONT
Kingsway, Newport
01633 656757
www.newport.gov.uk/theriverfront
The Riverfront is a state-of-the-art
venue which encompasses a gallery,
studio, café bar and 493-seat theatre.
Particularly impressive though are its
workshop spaces, which host classes in
everything from youth theatre to circus
skills, breakdancing and DJing.
Buzz 056
ROYAL WELSH COLLEGE OF MUSIC
AND DRAMA
North Road, Cardiff
029 2034 2854
www.rwcmd.ac.uk
The stunning multi-million-pound
redevelopment of the Royal Welsh
College has breathed new life into an
already fantastic centre for music,
drama, opera and theatre. The events
programme at the Royal Welsh is packed
with fantastic classical concerts, master
classes and lunchtime performances,
and the striking Dora Stoutzker Hall
sits at the heart of the college possesses
some phenomenal acoustics that need to
be heard to be believed.
ST DAVID’S HALL
The Hayes, Cardiff
029 2087 8500
www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk
Situated in the heart of Cardiff, St
David’s Hall is home to the Welsh Proms,
the Orchestral Concert Series and the
Cardiff Singer Of The World competition
– plus plenty of comedy and musical
performances. The venue provides
outstanding live entertainment as well
as free exhibitions of Welsh art.
ST DONATS ARTS CENTRE
Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan
01446 799100
www.stdonats.com
Situated on the picturesque grounds
of Atlantic College, St Donats plays an
important role in the cultural life of
the Vale of Glamorgan. Alongside adult
education classes and workshops,
the centre hosts various theatrical
performances, including the Wales
International Storytelling Festival. Art
exhibitions are also held in its intimate
gallery.
NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM
St Fagans, Cardiff
02920 573500
www.museumwales.ac.uk/stfagans
Delve into the history of Wales at the
brilliant and eye-opening St Fagans
museum of Welsh life. Step back into
the past and immerse yourself in Welsh
culture and tradition. With plenty to see,
this is the perfect place to while away a
few hours.
TALIESIN
Singleton Park, Swansea
01792 602060
www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk
Gallery, theatre, cinema, bookshop, café
bar, craft shop, Egyptian museum (I kid
you not) and local branch of Lloyds TSB
– is there nothing the Taliesin doesn’t
do? Situated on Swansea University’s
campus, this compact multi-purpose
venue hosts plays, concerts and films,
as well as regular exhibitions by local
artists.
WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE
Cardiff Bay Waterfront
029 2063 6464
www.wmc.org.uk
Wales’ most impressive cultural
landmark of recent times, the WMC
boasts a premiere programme of
West End musicals, opera, ballet,
contemporary dance, stand-up comedy
and art exhibitions. Home to the
internationally renowned Welsh National
Opera Company, this iconic building
also hosts popular free lunchtime
performances.
ART GALLERIES
ATTIC GALLERY
37 Pocketts Wharf, Swansea
01792 653387
www.atticgallery.co.uk
This venue has become Swansea’s
most successful commercial art
gallery, housed in a loft apartment
slap-bang in the centre of the town’s
fashionable maritime quarter. With
regular exhibitions from local artists
providing visitors with a good insight
into Swansea’s vibrant and rapidly
growing art scene, the Attic is scaling
lofty heights.
BAY ART
54 b/c Bute St, Cardiff Bay
029 2065 0016
www.bayart.org.uk
Cardiff Bay has been home to a thriving
art scene since the 1970s, back when it
was viewed as a derelict, crime-ridden
dockyard. With Lottery support, these
artists have turned a former squat into a