A COLWYN Bay hotel is set to become a hub for artists and musicians from across the UK.
The ground floor of the vacant Imperial Hotel, on Station Road, has been leased as an arts venue by St David’s Commercial, who will continue to look for buyers for the top floor.
The new arts hub is expected to open on March 30 with the local community being asked to join in a clean-up of the venue on Februay 19.
Its opening will be followed by a new exhibition, Easter Story, featuring 30 local and national artists with the aim of testing the viability of the site for a permanent hub.
Project manager Gavin Mart said: “We are hoping that the exhibition will be a catalyst event releasing the potential for an ongoing community hub at the venue.
“The location for such a hub is second to none in Colwyn Bay and several conversations with the County Council and Welsh Assembly members have proved extremely supportive.”
Ideas for the former public house have included an arts cafe, a space for multimedia exhibition space, a community kitchen and venue for accoustic music, drama and dance performances.
The project has already received the interest of community arts groups and events organisers.
Asher Awelan, organiser of the Ymuno Festival, who hope to hold an accoustic music night at the centre, described it as “very positive”.
“We want to support what Gavin’s doing - it’ll bring a real sense of quality to the area.”