Dylan Thomas Centre

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox building The Dylan Thomas Centre is an arts centre located in the Maritime Quarter in Swansea, Wales. It is a Grade II* listed building.<ref name=listed>Template:NHAW</ref>

History

The building was commissioned to replace a previous guildhall, which had been located near Swansea Castle and dated back to the late 16th century.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The new building, which was designed by John Collingwood in the neo-classical style and built by Thomas Bowen, was completed in 1829.<ref name=listed/> It was remodelled to the plans of Thomas Taylor in 1852, using a design which was modelled on the Temple of Jupiter Stator in Rome.<ref name=listed/> The external design involved nine bays on each side with round-arched windows on the ground floor and tall round-arched windows flanked by Corinthian order columns on the first floor.<ref name=listed/>

It was converted for use as a juvenile employment centre after the civic leaders moved to the new Swansea Guildhall in 1934.<ref>Template:NHAW</ref> During the Second World War it was requisitioned by the army for use as a recruiting centre.<ref name=history>Template:Cite web</ref> After reverting to use as a juvenile employment centre, it became a College of Further Education in 1960 and then became an annexe to Dynevor School in 1970 before closing in 1982.<ref name=history/><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>

The building was officially re-opened by the American former President Jimmy Carter and the last Leader of the Swansea City Council, Trevor Burtonshaw, as the Dylan Thomas Centre in 1995.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2012 a large part of the Centre was leased by Swansea's council to the University of Wales with the purpose of using it as a business centre for creative industries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In October 2014, the Centre launched the permanent "Love the Words" exhibition which explores Dylan's life and work through a variety of media and including letters, books, worksheets and photographs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was made possible with support of nearly £1 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Dylan Thomas Centre is home to a year-round programme of literary events, including book launches, plays, poetry evenings, changing exhibitions and science talks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It also hosts the annual Dylan Thomas Festival held between Dylan’s birth and death dates, 27 October to 9 November.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

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