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by | Mar 29, 2018 | Vernonia

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The Dylan Thomas Centre is an arts centre located in the Maritime Quarter in Swansea, Wales. It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]

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.[2] The new building, which was designed by John Collingwood in the neo-classical style and built by Thomas Bowen, was completed in 1829.[1] 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.[1] 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.[1]

It was converted for use as a juvenile employment centre after the civic leaders moved to the new Swansea Guildhall in 1934.[3] During the Second World War it was requisitioned by the army for use as a recruiting centre.[4] 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.[4][5]

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.[6][7] 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.[8]

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.[9] It was made possible with support of nearly £1 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.[10][11]

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.[12] It also hosts the annual Dylan Thomas Festival held between Dylan’s birth and death dates, 27 October to 9 November.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Cadw. "The Old Guildhall, Somerset Place (11643)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  2. ^ "The town hall by the castle". Swansea Council. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  3. ^ Cadw. "Swansea Guildhall (14594)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b "History of the Dylan Thomas Centre". Dylan Thomas Centre. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Dynevor School Centenary" (PDF). p. 13. Retrieved 24 August 2020.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Dylan Thomas Centre: University of Wales leases Swansea building". BBC. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Jimmy Carter to welcome visitors to Dylan Thomas house". BBC. 9 November 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Artists' fears over Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea". 27 March 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  9. ^ "'Love the Words' Exhibition – Dylan Thomas.com is the official website about the writer". Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  10. ^ "New Exhibition Coming To Swansea's Dylan Thomas Centre". Centre Screen. Retrieved 24 August 2020.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Dylan Thomas centre awarded nearly £1m in poet's centenary year". The Guardian. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Dylan Thomas Centre". Wales Tourists Online. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Dylan Thomas Festival". dylanthomas.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.

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