AN Aberystwyth-based theatre company and an organisation set-up to promote the town have won an Arts & Small Business award.

Arad Goch and Advancing Aberystwyth picked up the award for the theatre’s Hen Linell Bell - Far Old Line Festival, which took place last summer.

Advancing Aberystwyth, a body representing 411 businesses, supported the event.

The Arts & Business Cymru Awards took place at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

Judges praised the way the ambitious festival programme of workshops and street performances entertained thousands of people and benefited local businesses.

It proved so successful for all parties that discussions are taking place about future collaborations.

This is the second national award win for Far Old Line Festival after its success at the Wales Theatre Awards 2018 in February.

Jeremy Turner, artistic director of Arad Goch and director of Far Old Line Festival, said: “Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch operates locally, nationally and internationally; we know from long experience that one of the best ways of advancing our work is by placing it in a wide and varied context.

“We are delighted, therefore, that through collaborating with us on the Far Old Line Festival Advancing Aberystwyth ar y Blaen and the businesses of the town have gained the recognition, at the highest level, of the national business community.

“The success of the event resulted from the collaboration of all the funders, the many volunteers, the artists who came to work with us and Arad Goch staff; together we made a great event.”

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