The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama has been awarded a £2 million legacy gift from The Foyle Foundation and has received planning permission to continue its reimagining of Cardiff’s Old Library building.
The Old Library: creating a cultural and educational hub
Alongside financial support of £1.2m from Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns fund and the Digarbon loan fund delivered by Salix, this means that all funding has been secured for the first phase of the capital project, which will start at the end of October 2025.
Other funding, which was announced last year, has come from major gifts from Sir Howard and Jennifer Stringer, and an anonymous donor, as well as a grant from the Simon Gibson Charitable Trust. The Old Library project is at the heart of the vision for the College’s future – where the arts meet community and where students’ learning is enhanced by being in a civic, inclusive space. Without their generosity, and the goodwill of the Council, RWCMD would not be able to seize this amazing opportunity to expand its teaching, its community work and its public reach, seeing this building restored, reimagined, and alive with purpose.
The College has appointed a main contractor and preparation for the work has begun. This work will only affect the College areas of the building and does not affect Menter Caerdydd or The Museum of Cardiff, which will remain open as normal during the building process with access via Trinity Street. Phase One is due to complete in Summer 2026.
‘As Wales’ national conservatoire, we are delighted to announce the next stage of our work, returning to and re-imagining the original purpose of this important and historic building as a centre for the arts and learning, and extending the College’s reach into the wider community. This unique opportunity reflects our determination to make the arts central to society, to do more to connect with diverse communities, and to realise our ambition of a ‘people’s conservatoire’ – a place where students, artists and local communities come together to co-create inspiring performances, exhibitions and meaningful participation.’
Helena Gaunt, Principal, RWCMD
Naming the Foyle Foundation gift
The Old Library will become a major new arts and education hub in the heart of Cardiff, with the focus of Phase one works making the entrance welcoming and accessible, encouraging people to enter and engage with the space.
As a critical area of transition connecting the Old Library to the public shopping area on The Hayes, the current glass box entrance will be replaced with new steps and a ramp, and the ground floor main entrance and the foyer will be renovated. The steps and pop-up stages will provide a space for free performances and activity.
In recognition of the gift from the Foyle Foundation they will be named the Foyle Steps, the Foyle Foyer and the Foyle Stages.
David Hall, Chief Executive of the Foyle Foundation said: ‘In addition to our increased budget for our normal grant giving programmes in our final year of operation, the Foundation wished to make a range of special grants across the country which would be of national and regional importance and of long-term benefit to sector leaders. The legacy grant to the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama brings Cardiff’s Old Library back into public use to provide much needed additional facilities for the national conservatoire of Wales and creates a valuable community asset in the heart of Cardiff.’
This project will have a real impact for Cardiff city centre, contributing to its non-retail regeneration post-Covid.
Council Leader, Cllr Huw Thomas, said: ‘The Old Library is an important part of Cardiff’s history and a significant landmark in the city centre. As a Council, we’re pleased to be working with the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama to help open the page on its next chapter. Its transformation into a hub for creativity and the arts by one of our most prestigious cultural institutions, ensures it is protected and preserved for generations to come, and places music and performance right where it belongs – firmly at the heart of the city’s future.’
Director of public sector decarbonisation at Salix, Ian Rodger said: ‘It’s a huge privilege to work with The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama on this incredibly creative project which offers tremendous value to the community.
Digarbon offers the opportunity to help future proof the Old Library. We’re delighted to work with Welsh Government and Welsh Government Energy Service to deliver the loan funding, enabling the public sector meet its ambitious net zero targets.’
A new campus for the College
The Old Library will act as an extension of the current RWCMD North Road and Llanishen campus’, with students and staff regularly moving between buildings for classes, workshops, rehearsals and performances.
The location of the Old Library means that it will be an important hub for RWCMD’s community and participation work, with a key cultural set of relationships building on existing partnerships and creating new ones, including the redeveloped St David’s Hall, the Castle, and The National Museum Cardiff, as well as looking forward to providing year-round free and ticketed performances. For example, the College’s Good Vibrations Chorus, free weekly sessions with a focus on those with Parkinsons, already rehearse here.
