Aberystwyth Arts Centre has received a funding boost to help its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic which will “reignite the cultural buzz” at the venue as it gets set to reopen its doors to the public.

The arts centre, which has been closed to the public since March last year, will reopen on 21 June, and this week, the arts centre secured additional funding of £605,365 following a successful bid to the second round of the Welsh Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund.

The arts centre has received more than £1.2m from the fund as it tries to cope with the damaging effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The latest funding was announced on 7 June by the Arts Council of Wales, which managed the element of the fund for eligible arts organisations.

Director of Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Dafydd Rhys, said the funding was “vital” to allow the centre to continue and flourish as the pandemic eases.

“We’re so proud and grateful for the ongoing recognition by the Arts Council of Wales of the importance of Aberystwyth Arts Centre as a focal point for the arts in Mid and West Wales, and that we have been further entrusted to lead the way as the cultural and arts sector recovers from the Covid crisis,” he said.

“This funding will help to reignite the cultural buzz at the arts centre following the global pandemic.

“We are eagerly anticipating welcoming people back when we reopen our doors later this month, and have been busy putting together an exciting programme of events and activities which will draw in a wide range of audiences.

Last year, the centre received nearly £600,000 in October from the first round of the Welsh Government fund as its doors were closed as the pandemic hit in March.

Mr Rhys warned at the time that while the centre had “been running a number of online activities”, “the centre itself has essentially been closed since mid March and this has had a damaging effect on our financial situation.”

Aberystwyth Arts Centre will reopen on 21 June, after a phased reopening planned for last autumn then had to be abandoned due to flood damage.

Mr Rhys, said he was “absolutely delighted to be finally in a position to be able to safely reopen”.

“These are exciting times, as we look forward to our dance classes returning in-person on 14 June, followed by Stage School on 19 June, before reopening to the public on 21 June.

“A full cinema programme of the latest releases has been planned and will be shown in the Theatre, with social distancing in place. In our galleries, and indeed throughout the building, our Oriel Lockdown exhibition will feature works that have been created in, or reflect on, the pandemic.

“The safety and wellbeing of our customers and staff is paramount, and we have put in place a number of procedures to allow us to reopen safely and inspire confidence in our customers. Until the autumn we will also be operating a scheme allowing ticketholders to receive a refund if their attendance is impacted by Covid-19.”