Exciting news to report from Wrexham’s multi-award winning, markets, arts and community hub! Work will soon be commencing to create an additional flexible activity space in the market hall for visitors to enjoy.
The work will involve removing the three island stall units near the South Arcade entrance to the Food Court.
Tŷ Pawb have identified there is increased demand for pop-up and specialist stalls; that customers would like the option to sit at smaller tables, as well as the existing communal tables; and that craft groups benefit greatly from meeting in the food court.
This project will create additional seating room for visitors, more space for events such as pop-up markets and craft fairs and a new area for children and families to enjoy playful, engaging activities. It will also dramatically open up the view across the market hall and food court for visitors entering through the south arcade.
As well as hosting Tŷ Pawb activities, the space will also be hireable, allowing it to be used for externally organised events.
New furniture and ‘play kit’ to be designed
To help bring this new flexible space to life, Tŷ Pawb will be offering two special design commission opportunities.
The first commission will be to design a children’s ‘play kit’ of interactive sculptures, helping to bring playful activity into this new space in the market hall.
The second commission will be to create a new set of bespoke, multi-use tables and seating, specifically designed to function within this new activity space.
Full details on the two commissions will be shared when the open call is announced in the next few days. Visit the Tŷ Pawb website for the latest information.
The building work and design commission opportunities have been made possible thanks to £42,000 provided by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
A welcoming cultural home for everyone
”Lead Member with responsibility for Tŷ Pawb, Cllr Hugh Jones said: “Since Tŷ Pawb first opened its doors in 2018, we have regularly reviewed how the building is being used by visitors, and we’ve worked to reimagine and adapt our spaces wherever possible, based on the evolving needs of our audiences.
“This has included adapting the Food Court to be more functional as a live music space, opening up the flexible space to increase capacity for events, and transforming Gallery 2 into the Useful Art Space, which places a stronger focus on engagement, play, dialogue and learning.
“One of the most successful features incorporated into Tŷ Pawb’s design is the ‘baggy space’ concept. These are open, flexible areas of the building which can be quickly and easily adapted to host a huge range of activities. Tŷ Pawb’s mission is to provide a welcoming, accessible, cultural home for everyone. These flexible spaces have been a tremendous asset in helping us achieve that, capably hosting all kinds of events including, pop-up markets, record fairs, science festivals, community celebrations, play sessions, live music, and creative workshops, as well as their day-to-day function providing seating and dwelling space for visitors.
“The new project will help us to build on this successful model by creating another welcoming, family friendly space, adding capacity to the food court, unleashing the potential for new activities in an additional area of the building, and opening up an impressive new view of the market hall for visitors using one of our busiest entrances.”
“The work comes at a very positive time for Tŷ Pawb’s market, with a number of brand new traders opening in the next few weeks and existing traders expanding into larger units.”