Photos: “One of Scotland’s most vibrant small arts venues” set to reopen its doors after £3million transformation

The modernisation of Paisley Arts Centre into a unique and intimate performance venue and creative hub has been completed and will soon reopen to the public.

Work has been ongoing to transform the performance facilities, audience experience and venue space at the Arts Centre as part of a wider regeneration of Paisley’s cultural venues by Renfrewshire Council.

The work is now complete and includes new back-of-house and performance facilities, improved sound and lighting, upgraded dressing rooms for artists, and enhanced workshop space for rehearsals and other events.

The main auditorium has been refurbished with new retractable seating to improve the audience experience and there is an expanded bar area for pre-and post-show drinks.

The public space at the front of the building has also been redesigned, removing the railings and adding new paving and seating, and a small extension has been added to the entrance of the building on New Street.

Programming is underway to deliver year-round activity of music, comedy and theatre, and the first test event in the preview programme, When Mountains Meet, will take place on 31st May – telling the captivating, cross-cultural true story of musician Anne Wood.

The venue is operated by OneRen, the charity which provides culture, leisure and sport opportunities to help people enjoy active and healthy lives in Renfrewshire.

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, Renfrewshire Council’s culture spokesperson and Chair of OneRen, said: “I am delighted to see the results of the works to Paisley Arts Centre as we have created a modern performance venue that can attract a unique type of event to Paisley and a wider range than ever before – reaffirming its place as one of Scotland’s most vibrant small arts venues.

“The audience experience and performance facilities have been hugely improved which will attract more artists to want to perform at the venue, while remaining a key part of the local creative community scene.

“The Arts Centre is the latest venue to be completed as we strive to regenerate and enhance Paisley for all those who live, work and visit the town – and we want to give people new reasons to return again and again.

“It’s fantastic that we are now seeing our major infrastructure projects come to fruition, with the Town Hall and Learning and Cultural Hub recently completed and Paisley Museum’s transformation next to come. It’s a really exciting time for Paisley and I can’t wait to see the town continue to flourish.”

The refurbishment is part of a wider investment in Paisley’s cultural venues by Renfrewshire Council which includes the transformation of the town’s museum into a world-class visitor destination, the modernisation of Paisley Town Hall into one of Scotland’s leading entertainment venues, and the creation of an award-winning new learning and cultural hub, which houses Paisley Central Library, in a formerly empty retail unit at the heart of Paisley High Street.

Photo: Paisley Arts Centre external
Photo Credit: Renfrewshire Council