To promote, establish, operate and/or support activities and projects within the community.

About the Project

This project aims to develop the capacity of the community-owned and community-managed Victoria Hall in Lampeter, from its present well used facilities to an upgraded arts and performance venue, equipped to professional standard, for community and touring professional use. 

This will deliver : a sympathetic refurbishment of the existing Victorian theatre; installation of sound, lighting, cinema equipment and acoustic treatment; mobile staging and seating; development of the existing café and bar; installation of a box office; development of a small gallery/visual arts space.

1. The project aims to increase economic activity through recreational, tourism and leisure related infrastructure

2. We wish to link to established arts and culture providers in Ceredigion to share experiences and gain skills and develop a cluster approach to strengthen local provision and and share best practice and resources.

3. We aim to address issues of out and in population change in encouraging new communities to engage with more established ones in the area. We aim to promote the development of cultural events to mitigate the effects of and highlight the benefits of demographic mobility, and thereby seek further community integration and mutual acceptance of differing cultures.

4. The project aims to develop resilience and capability within the rural community and therefore help the community cope with change. Lampeter and the surrounding area’s dependence on the local University and the agricultural economy mean that as these two sources of employment and income are reduced it is now vulnerable to increased levels of poverty and social exclusion.

5. We wish to link to established arts and culture providers in Ceredigion to share experiences and gain skills and develop a cluster approach to strengthen local provision and share best practice and resources.

6. We aim to address issues of out and in population change in encouraging new communities to engage with more established ones in the area. We aim to promote the development of cultural events to mitigate the effects of and highlight the benefits of demographic mobility, and thereby seek further community integration and mutual acceptance of differing cultures.

What we aim to achieve

1. In developing Victoria Hall’s capacity the project aims to promote social inclusion within the Lampeter community, reduce poverty through skill building, knowledge and transfer of skills, and providing future employment opportunities and an opportunity for the economic development of Lampeter and the surrounding rural area.

2. The project aims to help those who are experiencing most deprivation locally and those with limited scope to change their circumstances.

3. The project aims to develop resilience and capability within the rural community and therefore help the community cope with change. Lampeter and the surrounding areas dependence on the local University and the agricultural economy mean that as these two sources of employment and income are reduced it is now vulnerable to increased levels of poverty and social exclusion.

4. The project aims to increase economic activity through recreational, tourism and leisure related infrastructure.

5.The project aims to link to benefits locally for health education and well-being.

6. We are developing this proposal via a ‘bottom-up approach with local people participating in decision making and future management of the project. 

7. We are working to strengthen the development of the Welsh Language locally: the Urdd wish to use the Hall regularly and are keen to be involved in the development of this project.

8. We are keen to involve local businesses in mentoring and sponsoring the project thereby strengthening opportunities business and community to build networks to for employment, skill building, sustainability and resilience.

9. We wish to link to established arts and culture providers in Ceredigion to share experiences and gain skills and develop a cluster approach to strengthen local provision and and share best practice and resources.

10. We aim to address issues of out and in population change in encouraging new communities to engage with more established ones in the area. We aim to promote the development of cultural events to mitigate the effects of and highlight the benefits of demographic mobility, and thereby seek further community integration and mutual acceptance of differing cultures.

11. Similarly we wish to strengthen local supply chains and encourage the mentoring and transfer of skills from one community to another: young to old and old to young; Welsh to English/Polish/ to Welsh; via technical expertise of sound and light, cookery skills in the café, performance/arts/marketing/ transferring skills.