SWANSEA's landmark Dylan Thomas Centre could be totally transformed into a 21st century hub for culture, creative industries, education and enterprise under proposals to be considered by the Council's Cabinet.
Swansea Council is looking to link up with the University of Wales along with Swansea Metropolitan University in a project which is designed to make the most of the venue.
As part of the plan, the Dylan Thomas exhibition and literature programme would remain in place at the centre, which costs £200,000 a year to run. And the plans could improve the current exhibition by adding other iconic figures from across Swansea Bay.
It would be home to the Dylan Thomas Prize — the world's biggest literature prize for young published authors — as well as the Sony Reader Prize, a new UK prize sponsored by Sony in partnership with the Dylan Thomas Prize, aimed at young, unpublished writers.
It could also offer space for businesses involved in the creative industries, and a workspace for outreach facility studies, including the Welsh Baccalaureate.
Swansea Council's cabinet member for culture, recreation and tourism, Councillor Graham Thomas, said: "This is an exciting plan that would build on the tremendous success story of the Dylan Thomas Centre.
"The exhibition and literature festival are major attractions.
"This initiative would make the most of what we already have, and would give the University of Wales and Swansea Metropolitan University another base in the city centre.
"Plans would not only see the existing exhibition conserved and improved, but could also include the accommodation of cutting- edge, creative industries at a time when we're looking to keep as many talented graduates as possible in the Swansea area."
It has led Swansea Council's cabinet to be asked to enter in principle into a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Wales and Swansea Metropolitan University — but the finer details will be agreed later in the year.
Mr Thomas said the cabinet was pleased to be working in partnership with the University of Wales and Swansea Metropolitan University.
He added: "Agreeing the Memorandum of Understanding in principle means we can further explore ideas to generate a 21st century hub of culture, academia and business at the Dylan Thomas Centre, while saving Swansea taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds."
Under the scheme, the restaurant will remain in place at the centre.
Professor David Warner, vice-chancellor of Swansea Metropolitan University, said: "These discussions are at a very early stage, and there is much work to do by both the University of Wales and Swansea Metropolitan University before anything is finalised.
"This opportunity could offer us the chance to enhance our city centre presence in a wonderful building and would no doubt be of benefit to both Wales-based students and the people of Swansea."
Professor Marc Clement, University of Wales chief executive and vice-chancellor, added: "The University of Wales sees itself as a pan-Wales institution, and is delighted to seek to develop this role further in partnership with Swansea Council and Swansea Metropolitan University."
South Wales Evening Post - 21st August
