St Donats Arts Centre

General information

St Donats Arts Centre is a department of UWC Atlantic College, and sits at the heart of the college’s campus, with stunning views of the Bristol Channel and the North Devon coastline. Open throughout the year, we host a broad programme of events including a variety of live performances, from children’s and youth theatre, jazz and acoustic music, an average of ten visiting exhibitions per year in the gallery, a Cinema and an annual Christmas Craft Fair

The Arts Centre is housed in the medieval Tythe Barn in the grounds of St Donat’s Castle; converted in the early 1970s for the artistic activities of UWC Atlantic College. In 1976 the Arts Centre was established as an independent organisation to serve the wider community of the Vale of Glamorgan and in 1977 work began to develop the venue into a professionally equipped performance venue and exhibition space.

During the 80’s and 90′s the Arts Centre was instrumental in establishing Music Theatre Wales, the Vale of Glamorgan Festival of Music and Beyond the Border Wales’ International Storytelling Festival.

In 1995, the Arts Centre underwent a three year redevelopment with aid of £1.2m from the Welsh Office, The Foundation for Sport and the Arts, The Mousetrap Charitable Trust and the Arts Council of Wales Lottery Funding resulting in a modern, multi-functional arts centre with its architectural integrity completely preserved.

In 2012, UWC Atlantic College and St Donats Arts Centre formed Atlantic College Enterprises, set up to provide the existing arts programme and enhancing the potential of the Arts Centre’s facilities and whole campus for commercial use, including Weddings, Conferences and location filming for Television and Films; as well providing an outdoor activity centre for residential courses and developing the existing programme of the arts centre.