Dwyfor Meirionnydd AM Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas has announced Welsh Government funding of £6m to create a destination venue for Wales.

Lord Elis-Thomas travelled to Aberystwyth to announce a multi-million grant to help redevelop the town’s iconic Old College building and turn it in to a hub for students, locals and visitors.

Plans and funding for the redevelopment were unveiled at the Old College last week, on Tuesday, 14 January, when Baroness Kay Andrews OBE announced funding of £9.6m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside Lord Elis-Thomas’ announcement.

The money will be used towards Aberystwyth University’s ambitious £27m plans, and will create 50 new jobs and 400 volunteer opportunities.

Lord Elis-Thomas, deputy minister for culture, transport and tourism, said it gave him great pleasure to announce the funding.

“It will help turn this building into a national icon,” he told an audience of invited guests, university staff and members of the press.

“It is going to be a fantastic experience for people visiting this building and I am very much looking forward to staying in one of the bedrooms.”

The Old College will house 33 hotel rooms, a café, function rooms, artist studios, exhibition spaces and places for music, performances and festivals.

Artist impressions of how the Old College will look have been released, showing Aberystwyth University’s vision for transforming the iconic and much-loved building into a vibrant and prestigious centre for all.

The Old College will close for refurbishment and will reopen in 2023 to coincide with a major milestone for the institute.

Aberystwyth University was founded in 1872, and events to mark its 150th anniversary – including the re-opening of the Old College - will take place throughout 2022 and 2023.

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