ABOUT US

The Melville Centre for the Arts CIC (MCA CIC) is a not for profit, limited by guarantee company.

Our   volunteer board of directors  seeks to ensure the restoration of the Grade 2 listed buildings of Abergavenny’s former King Henry V111 Grammar School, thus to  preserve the site’s heritage for future generations of the local community and increase its appeal to the many visitors to the town.

Working with the community all the way, it is our aim to construct a sustainable 21^st Century Arts Centre, with good amenities, on the Pen y Pound site, extending the range of inclusive activities, events and learning currently available.

In 2016 the listed buildings and much of the site was identified by Monmouthshire County Council as available for community asset transfer (CAT).

In January 2019, after many discussions, MCC agreed a procedure for community asset transfer of the site to Melville Centre for the Arts CIC.

Our business plan 2018 – 2021is convincing; it reflects the potential which can be unlocked by asset transfer of the town’s old grammar school buildings and grounds. Community asset transfer will be achieved when our applications for funding for agreed developments are successful. This may take some time yet, but progress is being made; the journey continues….

Melville Centre for the Arts CIC manages the main building of the Melville Centre, its classrooms, meeting rooms, coffee-bar, the Melville Theatre (75 seats) and office suites, one of which has been occupied for several years by Careers Wales’ regional team.

On site MCA CIC  hosts  Abergavenny Film Society, Black Mountain Jazz, Rare Seed Theatre Company, Suitcase Theatre Company, many Coleg Gwent Dysgu Cymraeg classes and several community groups, including Stitch Together, Writing for Fun, Uskelele, and Blodeuo, our Arts Council for Wales sponsored, diverse ability drama project.

In a separate building, (the old school’s much updated gymnasium), the popular and prestigious company Dance Blast has operated since 2008. Dance Blast offers the community a wide programme of dance, movement and circus skills which all generations appreciate.

Green Fingers, a diverse ability gardening project managed by Social Services, occupies suitably functional but very floral premises, is also on site, (but is not included in the asset transfer).