Tŷ Pawb

Tŷ Pawb is a multidisciplinary arts, culture and community venue in Wrexham, Wales. Its name is Welsh for “Everybody’s House,” reflecting the centre’s intended combination of contemporary art, local trading, public activity and community participation. Rather than operating solely as a conventional gallery or theatre, Tŷ Pawb brings together exhibition spaces, a market, food and drink businesses, performance facilities, artist and community spaces, learning provision and meeting rooms within a redeveloped city-centre building. The centre occupies the former Wrexham People’s Market, a 1992 indoor-market development built on a site with a much longer commercial history. The earlier site included Wrexham Corn Mills and, before that, buildings associated with banking and coaching activity. The People’s Market struggled with vacant space and competition from out-of-town retail locations. A redevelopment proposal was announced in 2015 and approved in 2016, with the stated aim of combining the market with a larger and more ambitious cultural offer. The £4.5 million project was supported by the Welsh Government, the Arts Council of Wales and Wrexham County Borough Council. Featherstone Young designed the redevelopment, with Wynne Construction as contractor. The redevelopment added two galleries, performance areas, a gallery shop, market stalls, studios, cafés, bars, a learning centre and meeting rooms. The former Oriel Wrecsam, previously based in Wrexham Library, moved into the new centre. A public vote in September 2017 selected the name Tŷ Pawb over the alternatives Cartref and Oriel M. The centre opened on 2 April 2018, although some construction and finishing work continued for several months. Its principal spaces include Gallery 1 and Gallery 2, a 104-seat theatre and performance area, the indoor public square known as Sgwâr y Bobl, and Wal Pawb, a revolving display and advertising structure used to present selected artworks. Sgwâr y Bobl was designed as a flexible “baggy space,” using movable translucent industrial-plastic curtains to allow simultaneous activities and events. The building also contains market units, cafés, bars, studios and community facilities, while a multistorey car park occupies upper floors. Tŷ Pawb’s programme spans contemporary and applied art, touring exhibitions, music, workshops, community projects, markets and public events. It has hosted exhibitions and activities relating to local history, the Battle of Britain, Gypsy and Roma communities, refugees, asylum seekers and multicultural participation. It is also one of the venues for Focus Wales, Wrexham’s annual music festival, and has hosted events such as touring record fairs. The Useful Art Space, or Lle Celf Ddefnyddiol, was developed as a multicultural programme and activity hub involving arts, music and food. The venue has received recognition for its architectural and cultural model. It won the Gold Medal for Architecture at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 2019 and was shortlisted for the 2022 Art Fund Museum of the Year award. Its operating model has nevertheless faced financial and practical pressures. Visitor numbers, car-park income and venue hire revenue were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, while the building’s energy consumption, maintenance requirements, inflation and cost-of-living pressures increased expenditure. The council therefore continued to operate the centre rather than transferring it to an independent trust as originally anticipated. Tŷ Pawb remains an active civic cultural venue whose identity depends on connecting art with everyday commerce and community life.

The site now occupied by Tŷ Pawb has served commercial and civic purposes for centuries. A house known as Tŷ Meredith once stood in the area, while nearby premises included a bank opened around the late eighteenth century that later became the Wrexham & North Wales Bank before collapsing in 1849. The wider site also included narrow lanes and a coach works. During the 1890s, Wrexham Corn Mills was established on the land, forming a group of brick warehouses that were later used for offices and wholesale activity. The mill complex was demolished in 1990 as part of preparations for a new urban-market development. The People’s Market opened in 1992 as part of a wider redevelopment of Wrexham. It replaced the Vegetable Market, which had been established in 1898, and became the newest of the town’s principal indoor markets alongside the Butcher’s Market and General Market. The building included a ground-floor market and a multistorey car park above it. Around thirty stalls originally offered goods such as clothing, cosmetics, furniture, books and carpets. Its car-accessible design reflected contemporary retail planning, but the development was affected by vacant units and competition from out-of-town shopping areas near the A483. The market’s position away from the historic core also limited its ability to generate consistent footfall. Plans to transform the building into a combined market and arts centre were first announced in December 2015. The proposal was approved in principle on 6 January 2016 and formally approved on 12 January. It envisaged expanding the existing Oriel Wrecsam gallery into a larger cultural facility while retaining a marketplace as a central part of the building’s public and economic purpose. The project was supported by Welsh Government, Arts Council of Wales and Wrexham County Borough Council funding, with a reported development cost of £4.5 million. The project attracted criticism and concern. Some councillors questioned its cost, location and long-term funding model, while market traders worried that an arts-led redevelopment could reduce the importance of trading space or discourage new stallholders. Early financial projections indicated a possible operating loss, with the potential deficit increasing if Arts Council support was not secured. The council originally expected trading to continue alongside construction, but reversed that position in December 2016 and decided to close the market during the works. Traders began leaving on 6 January 2017, and all had moved out by 9 January. Some transferred to the Butcher’s Market, while others left the site or closed permanently. Construction began on 19 January 2017. The redevelopment was designed by Sarah Featherstone of Featherstone Young and built by Wynne Construction. It introduced two galleries, performance spaces, a gallery shop, new market stalls, cafés, bars, studios, learning facilities and meeting rooms. The removal of a first-floor parking area known as the mayor’s garage allowed a double-height entrance and enabled additional offices and studios. Budget limitations influenced aspects of the exterior treatment, including simple black streaks on the façade. In November 2017, a large Art Deco light formerly associated with the Wrexham Hippodrome was installed in the South Arcade. A public vote on 12 September 2017 selected the name Tŷ Pawb, meaning “Everybody’s House” or “Everyone’s House.” It defeated Cartref and Oriel M. The centre opened on 2 April 2018, an Easter Monday promoted as “Dydd Llun Pawb,” although remaining construction work continued into June. The council offered traders a temporary rent reduction to acknowledge disruption. Oriel Wrecsam subsequently relocated into the building, while its former library gallery space was later converted into a local police station. Tŷ Pawb developed a programme that linked visual art, applied art, performance, music, education, community participation and independent commerce. It became a venue for Focus Wales and hosted touring exhibitions, local exhibitions, music events, record fairs and community projects. In 2021, Make Yourself at Home supported art and craft skills among local refugees and asylum seekers. A transmitter installed on the roof extended the reach of community station Calon FM. In 2022, the Useful Art Space provided a multicultural hub for activities involving art, music and cuisine, supported by Race Council Cymru and Arts Council of Wales funding. The centre’s architectural and cultural significance was recognised when it won the Gold Medal for Architecture at the 2019 National Eisteddfod of Wales. In 2022 it was shortlisted for the Art Fund Museum of the Year award, which brought national attention to its hybrid model, although the award went to the Horniman Museum. Its operating finances have remained challenging. Visitor numbers, car-park use and venue hire were reduced by the pandemic, while the building’s concrete construction, limited insulation, gallery climate-control requirements, car-park roof and boiler contributed to high energy and maintenance costs. The council therefore retained operational responsibility rather than transferring the venue to an independent trust. By 2024, further measures were being considered to control expenditure, improve energy performance and increase revenue while preserving Tŷ Pawb’s combined cultural, commercial and community role.

• 2022

  Shortlisted for Art Fund Museum of the Year

  [1]Tŷ Pawben.wikipedia.org

  Tŷ Pawb becomes one of four finalists for the Art Fund Museum of the Year award.

• 2021

  Council operation extended

  [1]Tŷ Pawben.wikipedia.org

  The council decides to keep operating the centre for at least three more years after the pandemic affects its revenues.

• 2019

  Welsh Architecture Award recognition

  [1]Tŷ Pawben.wikipedia.org

  Tŷ Pawb wins the Gold Medal for Architecture at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

• 2018

  Centre opens

  [1]Tŷ Pawben.wikipedia.org

  Tŷ Pawb opens on 2 April as an arts centre, gallery, market and community venue.

• 2017

  Market closes for construction

  [1]Tŷ Pawben.wikipedia.org

  People’s Market traders leave the building in January before redevelopment work begins.

• 2017

  Tŷ Pawb name selected

  [1]Tŷ Pawben.wikipedia.org

  A public vote selects Tŷ Pawb as the name for the new development.

• 2016

  Redevelopment receives formal approval

  [1]Tŷ Pawben.wikipedia.org

  The redevelopment is approved by Wrexham County Borough Council in January.

• 2015

  Arts-and-market redevelopment announced

  [1]Tŷ Pawben.wikipedia.org

  Plans are announced to transform the People’s Market into a combined arts, market and community facility.

• 1992

  People’s Market opens

  [1]Tŷ Pawben.wikipedia.org

  The building opens as Wrexham’s People’s Market, replacing the earlier Vegetable Market and incorporating a multistorey car park.

A publicly oriented Welsh cultural destination that combines contemporary art, performance, independent trading and community activity in one accessible city-centre setting.

• Contemporary and applied arts · 2018

  Gallery programme

  Tŷ Pawb operates two principal gallery spaces presenting touring, locally focused, contemporary and applied-arts exhibitions. The programme supports public engagement with visual culture while connecting exhibitions to Wrexham’s communities, history and wider Welsh cultural context.

• Market and retail · 2018

  Market and independent trading

  The centre retains market stalls as a core part of its identity and economic purpose. Independent traders operate alongside galleries, cafés and community facilities, preserving an everyday commercial function within a cultural venue.

• Performance venue · 2018

  Performance and live events

  A 104-seat theatre and associated performance areas support concerts, talks, community events and other live programming. Tŷ Pawb also participates as a venue in Focus Wales and hosts touring and locally organised events.

• Community arts · 2022

  Useful Art Space

  The Useful Art Space, known in Welsh as Lle Celf Ddefnyddiol, provides a multicultural activity hub for arts, music, food and community-led programming. Its purpose is to make cultural participation responsive to the diverse communities present in Wrexham.

• 2021Make Yourself at Home

  Wrexham · Wales

  An arts project developed visual-arts and craft skills among local refugees and asylum seekers.

  Outcome. The project expanded Tŷ Pawb’s community arts and inclusion work.

  Source
• 2018Dydd Llun Pawb opening

  Wrexham · Wales

  The opening was presented as Dydd Llun Pawb, or “Everybody’s Monday,” reinforcing the venue’s inclusive public positioning.

  Outcome. Tŷ Pawb opened to the public on 2 April 2018.

  Source
• 2017Public naming vote

  Wrexham · Wales

  The public was invited to choose the name of the redeveloped venue from three options: Tŷ Pawb, Cartref and Oriel M.

  Outcome. Tŷ Pawb was selected and became the permanent identity of the centre.

  Source

• 2024

  Develop cost-reduction and revenue measuresStrategy

  Background

  The centre faced below-pre-pandemic footfall, high energy consumption, inflation, maintenance requirements and reduced car-park income.

  Action taken

  The council considered building-efficiency improvements, increased car-park revenue and other measures to reduce costs and improve income.

  Aftermath

  The venue remained active, but its long-term financial model continued to require public support and monitoring.

  Source

• 2021

  Retain council managementStrategy

  Background

  The centre had been expected to move toward an independent trust model, but the pandemic reduced parking and venue-hire income.

  Action taken

  Wrexham County Borough Council extended direct operation for at least a further three years.

  Aftermath

  Tŷ Pawb continued as a council-run cultural and market facility while longer-term governance and financial sustainability remained under consideration.

  Source

• 2016

  Approve conversion of the People’s Market into a combined arts and market centreStrategy

  Background

  The former People’s Market faced vacant space and competition from out-of-town retail. The redevelopment was intended to retain a marketplace while adding a larger cultural programme.

  Action taken

  Wrexham County Borough Council approved the redevelopment, supported by Welsh Government and Arts Council of Wales funding.

  Aftermath

  The project created Tŷ Pawb, with galleries, performance facilities, market stalls, studios, learning spaces and community areas.

  Source

• 2016

  Close the market during redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The council initially expected traders to continue operating alongside construction, but concerns about the practical impact led to a change in approach.

  Action taken

  The council reversed its earlier position and announced that the People’s Market would close during the works.

  Aftermath

  Traders moved out in January 2017; some relocated to another Wrexham market, while others left the site or closed.

  Source

• 2024

  Tŷ Pawb faces further cost and energy pressures[1]Tŷ Pawben.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The council reported projected annual costs of approximately £280,000 and considered Arts Council of Wales support, building-efficiency measures and ways to increase car-park and other revenue. High energy use, inflation, maintenance and below-pre-pandemic footfall were cited as pressures.

• 2022

  Tŷ Pawb shortlisted for Art Fund Museum of the Year[1]Tŷ Pawben.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Tŷ Pawb was one of four finalists for the Art Fund Museum of the Year award. It was recognised for an unusual and resilient approach combining art, markets and community activity, but did not win.

• 2022

  Council discusses Tŷ Pawb’s operating deficit and falling footfall[1]Tŷ Pawben.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Council discussions addressed reduced visitor numbers, lower car-park occupancy and venue income, maintenance costs and the trading hours of market businesses. The arts programme was described as successful in grant applications and self-funding.

• 2021

  Tŷ Pawb remains under council operation[1]Tŷ Pawben.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The centre was expected to move toward trust-based management, but Wrexham County Borough Council announced that it would remain council-run for at least a further three years after pandemic-related effects on income.

• 2019

  Tŷ Pawb receives the Gold Medal for Architecture at the National Eisteddfod of Wales[1]Tŷ Pawben.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The centre’s redevelopment received the Gold Medal for Architecture at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

• 2018

  Tŷ Pawb opens in Wrexham[1]Tŷ Pawben.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The redeveloped former People’s Market opened as Tŷ Pawb on 2 April, combining galleries, performance facilities, market stalls, food and community spaces.

1. 1Tŷ Pawben.wikipedia.org
2. 2Tŷ Pawb official websitetypawb.cymru