View of y Gaer Brecon

Work to develop y Gaer, the new cultural hub in Brecon, including the refurbishment of the Brecknock Museum and Art Gallery started in August 2016. The new centre is due to reopen in late 2019. (Read more about the planning and funding of the y Gaer project.)

Y Gaer project

The construction and refurbishment works for y Gaer have been carried by Kier Construction Ltd under a 29-month contract with Powys CC as the lead funder. The substantially complete buildings are being part-occupied by Powys CC from summer 2019 as Kier complete the new building’s sandstone cladding and rectify minor defects. Powys CC has been assisted in the y Gaer project by consulting engineers Jacobs, Swansea-based architects Powell Dobson, and Powys CC’s Heart of Wales Property Services Ltd. Project Manager for Powys CC is Lucy Bevan (Arts & Culture Commissioning Officer). Powys CC has been assisted by the BS&MF as a local funding partner with Mervyn Bramley as the Society’s lead.

Commissioning y Gaer

Powys CC is now in the process of completing the furnishing and installation of equipment and collections in the buildings. This is being done by the y Gaer operations team led by Senior Librarian Nicola Farr and Senior Curator Nigel Blackamore. Fit out of the Museum and Art Gallery is supported by consultants Designmap, specialist contractor Elmwood Projects Ltd and Powys CC’s museum staff and y Gaer volunteers. The aspirations of Powys CC, BS&MF and other funding partners for y Gaer are set out in the Vision Statement.

Further information

For more information on any aspect of the BS&MF’s interests in y Gaer, contact the Society’s lead officer Mervyn Bramley (email: mervyn.bramley@blueyonder.co.uk).

April 2019