Wrexham and the Arts

Culture vultures are rarely short of entertainment in Wrexham, with theatre, music and the visual arts all playing a major role and a thriving heritage scene to keep the area's remarkable history alive.

The annual Wrexham Arts Festival in May/June is an unbeatable showcase for artists, writers, dancers and musicians.

Wrexham Arts Centre (www.wrexham.gov.uk/arts), Yale Memorial Gallery and Gallery 103 at NEWI provide year-round exhibitions of the best contemporary visual art and craft in Wales, while the newly refurbished Theatr Stiwt in Rhos hosts a wide variety of musical and theatrical events.

Grove Park "Little Theatre", home to a flourishing amateur company, which celebrated its 80th birthday in 2004, showcases productions of work by a variety of artists including Noel Coward, John Godber and the master of farce, Ray Cooney.

Wrexham also has four of the best male voice choirs in Wales - Brymbo, Froncysyllte, Y Rhos and Rhos Orpheus - and their rehearsals provide a unique and moving experience. Contact Wrexham TIC on 01978 292015 to find out when rehearsal evenings are held, which you can attend.

The Wrexham area is bursting with working artists and craft-makers and there's always something going on to involve the whole community. There are regular events including drawing classes and children's art clubs, plus varied exhibitions show-casing the work of local painters, potters, jewellery designers and printmakers to name but a few, with demonstrations by expert craft-makers. Some of the best gallery spaces in Wales are right here in Wrexham and feature travelling exhibitions of the work of nationally and internationally renowned artists.