Wolverhampton theatre and arts centre gets £5 million for new roof and windows

A crumbling theatre and creative arts centre will receive almost £5 million from the Government to pay for urgent renovation work.

Wolverhampton Arts Centre, formerly Newhampton Arts Centre, has been awarded the money through the Creative Foundations Fund.

It will be used to replace the failing roof and sash windows of the former Municipal Grammar School building in Dunkley Street, Whitmore Reans, to help make the Victorian building weather-tight.

The work is expected to begin next year and is due to be completed in 2028.

The funding will also allow the centre to reopen its main entrance onto Newhampton Road, providing step-free access to visitors for the first time in more than two decades.

Trevelyan Wright, chief executive of Wolverhampton Arts Centre, said: “This is a hugely important moment for the centre.

“We are lucky to work in a remarkable historic building, but anyone who has visited in recent years will have seen the strain it has been under, from leaks and drafts to the practical limitations of a site that no longer works as well as it should.

“It means we can make the building warm, dry and more accessible, and finally reopen the Newhampton Road entrance as a proper front door to the arts centre. For us, that shows that this place has a future.”

Chairman of the centre’s trustees, Wendy Stephens, added: “This investment is a major vote of confidence in the value of this place and in the role it plays in the life of our city.

“It is about protecting a much-loved cultural home, improving access, and creating a centre that is warmer, more welcoming and better equipped to serve artists, audiences and communities for decades to come. This funding is a huge step forward.”

Wolverhampton Arts Centre, in its current form, has been based at the site since 2000 and receives 50,000 visits a year for concerts, theatre productions, classes, and exhibitions. It is also hosts the annual Wolverhampton Beer Festival, and is home to more than 30 creative and community organisations and businesses

In recent years the council-owned building has suffered from water ingress, failing windows, and a poorly configured side entrance.

Earlier this year, the group that runs it secured a long-term lease from Wolverhampton Council, an important step in unlocking major capital investment.

The organisation said it would continue its Raise The Roof campaign to support the wider redevelopment of the centre, helping to secure its future and improve access for local people.

In addition to the money for the arts centre, Wolverhampton will also receive £270,000 as part of the Libraries Improvement Fund.

Warinder Juss, MP for Wolverhampton West, said the funding would help secure the future of the arts centre, improving access and ensuring it continued to serve local people for years to come.

“Our local arts and cultural spaces are at the heart of our community, bringing people together and celebrating what makes Wolverhampton special,” he added.

Councillor Obaida Ahmed, cabinet member for community, said: “Wolverhampton Arts Centre is a vital part of our community, somewhere people come together, learn new skills and take pride in where they live.

“This investment will make a real difference locally, helping to keep these spaces open, accessible and thriving for years to come.”