Bangor’s latest- correction, only, “Arts and Innovation Centre”, Pontio, finally opened its doors in November of 2015, almost 5 years after it was first announced in December 2010. Following several delays and a few missed budgets, the general public were finally allowed to tour Pontio in November, before events began in December- just in time for Christmas. Admittedly, you’d need a rather large tree to put Pontio under; the £50 million building features five levels which contain a multiplicity of features including a theatre, a cinema, several restaurants, office spaces, lecture rooms and a bar. Situated next to it is an unmissable structure known as Caban, designed by Dutch artist Joep Van Lieshout, which is a £100,000 modern-day representation of Welsh quarrymen’s huts, prolific during the height of Wales’ slate industry. A representation which appears to be a duck-come-submarine made from Plaster of Paris for a school project.
Pontio sits on the former site of Theatr Gwynedd, which closed in 2008. The opening will no doubt come as a delight to fans of the arts of all kinds, from music to film, stand-up comedy to…other kinds of music. December already saw a Christmas concert by the choral talents of Cardiff’s Only Men Aloud!, who came to prominence after winning the BBC’s Last Choir Standing, and a screening of Pontio’s first ever artist-in-residence Bedwyr Williams’ latest film, “Pelt”, which explored two of Bangor University’s collections (presumably of pelts). There was also a Welsh-language pantomime named Melltith y Brenin Lludd, based upon Welsh legend found in the Mabinogion.
The future of Pontio also looks promising; events have already been scheduled up to the end of April, in both English and Welsh language, including the screening of the latest Star Wars film (for the five people who haven’t already seen it) and appearances by comedians Ruby Wax and Russell Kane. Bangor University’s Student Union are moving to Pontio in mid-January, and lectures have been scheduled for students throughout the second semester, which comes as annoyance for some and relief for those living on St Mary’s Hill, as Pontio’s most revolutionary feature, an elevator, eliminates the necessity of climbing notorious Glanrafon Hill.
Whether Pontio was worth £50 million and a five year wait is really a matter of opinion; the eateries inside aren’t exactly fit for monarchy, but are a welcome alternative to the fast food outlets on the high street (unless one only wants fast food). The variety of performances equates to a high chance there will be something to fit any visitor’s taste, but for the big attractions one will, for the time being, still need to look at nearby Venue Cymru in Llandudno. On the other hand, Pontio’s theatre will give smaller and local names a chance to shine throughout the gloomy North Wales winter, and beyond – through the gloomy North Wales spring and gloomy North Wales summer.
Before its construction even began, Pontio was received with mixed reaction, but whether a fan or not, now that it has finally opened the Arts and Innovation Centre will most certainly become as much a part of Bangor as its university, students, hills, and rain. Pontio is here to stay; unfortunately, so too is the Ugly Duckling sat next to it.
words JAKE MELLOR