| Dylan Thomas Centre | |
| Former Names: | Swansea Guildhall |
| Location: | Swansea, Wales |
| Address: | Somerset Place, Swansea SA1 1RR |
| Owner: | City and County of Swansea Council |
| Completion Date: | 1829 |
| Renovation Date: | 1995 |
| Main Contractor: | Thomas Bowen |
| Architect: | John Collingwood |
The Dylan Thomas Centre is an arts centre located in the Maritime Quarter in Swansea, Wales. It is a Grade II* listed building.
The building was commissioned to replace a previous guildhall which had been located near Swansea Castle and dated back to the late 16th century.[1] The new building, which was designed by John Collingwood in the neo-classical style and built by Thomas Bowen, was completed in 1829. It was remodelled to the plans of Thomas Taylor in 1852, using a design which was modelled on the Temple of Jupiter Stator in Rome. The external design involved nine bays on each side with round-arched windows on the ground floor and tall round-arched windows flanked by Corinthian order columns on the first floor.
It was converted for use as a juvenile employment centre after the civic leaders moved to the new Swansea Guildhall in 1934. During the Second World War it was requisitioned by the army for use as a recruiting centre.[2] After reverting to use as a juvenile employment centre, it became a College of Further Education in 1960 and then became an annexe to Dynevor School in 1970 before closing in 1982.[2] [3]
The building was officially re-opened by the American former President Jimmy Carter and the last Leader of the Swansea City Council, Trevor Burtonshaw, as the Dylan Thomas Centre in 1995.[4] [5] In 2012 a large part of the Centre was leased by Swansea's council to the University of Wales with the purpose of using it as a business centre for creative industries.[6]
In October 2014, the Centre launched the permanent "Love the Words" exhibition which explores Dylan's life and work through a variety of media and including letters, books, worksheets and photographs.[7] It was made possible with support of nearly £1 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.[8] [9]
The Dylan Thomas Centre is home to a year-round programme of literary events, including book launches, plays, poetry evenings, changing exhibitions and science talks.[10] It also hosts the annual Dylan Thomas Festival held between Dylan’s birth and death dates, 27 October to 9 November.[11]