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Artist helps celebrate green future of Castle Square as major revamp gets underway

The council says the 15‑metre installation, created by Swansea artist Hasan Kamil and produced with local firm Oner Signs, has been installed on hoardings at the junction of Princess Way and Temple Street.

According to the authority, the digitally composed collage features bees, birds, butterflies and greenery to reflect the nature‑rich design planned for the revamped square.

Swansea Council is now referring to the site as Castle Square Gardens, saying the new name reflects the greening of the space. The square is currently known as Castle Square, but before its 1990s redesign it was historically known as Castle Gardens.

The artwork has gone up as contractor Knights Brown prepares to begin the main phase of construction. The council says detailed preparation work has already taken place behind the hoardings.

The new Castle Square Gardens artwork, featuring bees, birds, butterflies and greenery to reflect the future design of the square. (Pic: Swansea Council)

Rob Stewart, Swansea Council leader, said the artwork showcases local talent and the ambition behind the wider regeneration programme.

“Hasan and Oner Signs are high‑quality local operators who recognise how important this location’s bright future is to local people. I thank them for their work and expertise,” he said.

“Our greener, more people‑friendly Castle Square Gardens will be a vital element in our ongoing £1bn regeneration programme for Swansea. It will be a modern, functional and well maintained public space that can accommodate a range of events and cultural experiences.”

The council says the new square will include two pavilion buildings for food, drink or retail, one with an accessible green roof. Plans also include new lawns, biodiverse planting, a water feature for interactive play, a giant TV screen above a bandstand‑style space, and new seating, lighting and paving.

Castle Square in its current form, ahead of major redevelopment work to create the new Castle Square Gardens. (Pic: Swansea Council)How the new Castle Square Gardens is expected to look, with more greenery, new pavilions and upgraded public space. (Pic: Swansea Council)

Elliott King, cabinet member for culture, human rights and equalities, said the artwork helps improve the look of the city centre during construction.

“This excellent new public art transforms the visual impact of a construction site, brightens the streets and makes the city centre a more pleasant place to visit,” he said.

“It’s an engaging artwork that increases creativity in the public domain, demonstrates local artistic excellence and inspires positivity. We plan to install public art on other development site hoardings.”

Hasan, who grew up in Swansea and has previously produced work for Swansea City AFC, Swansea University and Olchfa School, said he was pleased to be involved.

“I’m delighted to contribute to the streetscape in a way that reflects the exciting, greener future of Castle Square Gardens,” he said.

Oner Signs, which has operated in Swansea for 30 years, said it was proud to support the project.

Ronny Oner, speaking on behalf of the business, said:

“It’s great to have been involved in this public art project that helps illustrate how our city centre is evolving – and how Swansea is full of creative talent.”

The council says the existing leaf‑boat sculpture has been removed for safe storage while discussions continue with the artist about a new location, with Cwmdonkin Park among the options.

Safety hoardings now surround the site, but the council says all surrounding streets, footways and businesses remain open. The authority also points to nearby private‑sector schemes, including new homes and commercial units in the former Castle Cinema and the McDonald’s building.

#Art #artist #CastleGardens #CastleSquare #CastleSquareGardens #CllrElliottKing #CllrRobStewart #HasanKamil #OnerSigns #regeneration #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil

Swansea Central Library prepares for move to Y Storfa

Swansea Council has confirmed that all library services at the Civic Centre will close on Monday, October 20, with the new Y Storfa facility due to open several weeks later. The exact opening date will be announced soon.

Around 60,000 books and other items are being carefully packed for the move, including 5,000 historic and modern maps, 3,500 microfilm reels, 4,000 picture books, 2,200 graphic novels, and accessible materials such as large‑print, audiobooks, dyslexia‑friendly titles and Braille.

Poster at Swansea Central Library informing visitors about the forthcoming move to Y Storfa.
(Image: Swansea Council)Artist’s impression of how Swansea Central Library will look inside Y Storfa.
(Image: Swansea Council)

New facilities at Y Storfa

The new Central Library will feature a glass‑fronted children’s library with thousands of books, a sensory wall, interactive games, and a retro gaming area for older children. Board games for families and adults will also be available.

Visitors will be able to access physical newspapers such as the South Wales Evening Post, bound archives, and hundreds of digital titles via the library’s Press Reader and Borrowbox services. Historic newspapers will also be available online through subscription resources and the National Library of Wales.

Temporary arrangements

Swansea’s 16 community libraries will remain open during the transition, although public PCs will be unavailable on October 22 and 23 due to maintenance. Borrowed items can be returned to branch libraries, and online services will remain available 24/7.

Part of city centre regeneration

Y Storfa is part of Swansea Council’s £1bn regeneration programme and will pave the way for the redevelopment of the Civic Centre site.

Cllr Elliott King, cabinet member for culture, Swansea Council, said: “Y Storfa will give residents a modern, welcoming Central Library at the heart of the city centre. It’s good to see that preparations for the move are well underway.”

Cllr Rob Stewart, leader of Swansea Council, said: “Y Storfa will create a central hub where people can learn, access support and come together. It’ll create footfall for city centre businesses and will further boost Swansea’s regeneration.”

Artist’s impression of Y Storfa, opposite Swansea’s new-look Castle Square.(Image: Swansea Council)

More than a library

Alongside the Central Library, Y Storfa will also house the West Glamorgan Archive Service, Housing Options and Housing Services, the council’s contact centre, lifelong learning, and revenue and benefits teams.

Non‑council tenants will include Careers Wales, Citizens Advice Neath Port Talbot, and Swansea University’s South Wales Miners’ Library.

The project has been supported by the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Housing services set to join Y Storfa community hub in city centre
Council confirms housing teams will relocate to the new hub alongside the library.

Fly-through video reveals first look at Swansea’s new Y Storfa community hub
A virtual tour shows how the landmark development will look once complete.

Swansea Central Library preparing for move to Y Storfa hub
Staff begin the process of packing thousands of items ahead of the relocation.

Y Storfa community hub takes shape in Swansea city centre
Construction progresses on the £1bn regeneration project opposite Castle Square.

#BHS #CastleSquare #CentralLibrary #CentralLibraryMove #CentralLibraryRelocation #CivicCentre #CllrElliottKing #CllrRobStewart #Library #Swansea #SwanseaCentralLibrary #SwanseaCouncil #YStorfa

Artists set to commemorate those affected by Covid in Swansea

The council has jointly appointed Catrin Jones and Angharad Pearce Jones and makes this announcement just before this Sunday’s UK-wide Covid Day of Reflection.

Council leader Rob Stewart said: “The impact of Covid continues to live with us every day.

“We promised all those in Swansea affected by the pandemic – those who lost their lives, their families, our emergency services, social care workers, those who stepped up to support their neighbours and very many more – that we would honour and remember them.

“The memorial will be a permanent focal point of recognition for those that were affected for remembrance and reflection, for the unity that was inspired by our collective experience and hope for the future.

“Swansea’s Covid-19 memorial will be shaped by the voices of those it represents.

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“Through community engagement led by the artists and supported by the council, we want to ensure that the location, design and meaning of this tribute reflect the experiences, resilience and memories of Swansea.”

Elliott King, cabinet member for culture and equalities, said: “It will be a challenging piece of work because, for many of us, the impact of the pandemic was felt at such a personal level.

“We’ll never forget those who died or their families. We’ll all have our own stories and memories of sadness, togetherness and hope, and our aspiration is that this will be reflected in the designs Catrin and Angharad bring forward as a unifying and poignant memorial.”

Catrin and Angharad were appointed following an open application process, inviting UK artists to participate. Both artists have created works of public art located across the UK, including in Swansea.

Catrin created the acclaimed sea-life murals on the new seawall in Mumbles. A 50m work in tubular steel created by Angharad and commissioned by Sustrans can be found on railway bridge sidings in Clydach near the Mond Nickel plant.

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In their successful submission, the artists said any memorial should commemorate not just the bereaved, but also the health and social care staff, the frontline workers, the scientists who developed the vaccines, and everyone else whose combined efforts played some part in combatting the virus.

They’re aware of how Covid impacted – and continues to have an impact on – society through matters such as long Covid, and children and young people in education. It’s planned that their commission will involve community engagement to create an overarching narrative.

Catrin Jones said: “This is an important commission for both of us and we look forward to working together to deliver a meaningful and poignant piece of public art for Swansea.” 

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

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#AngharadPearceJones #Art #CatrinJones #CllrElliottKing #CllrRobStewart #COVID #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil

Artists set to commemorate those affected by Covid in Swansea

The council has jointly appointed Catrin Jones and Angharad Pearce Jones and makes this announcement just before this Sunday’s UK-wide Covid Day of Reflection.

Council leader Rob Stewart said: “The impact of Covid continues to live with us every day.

“We promised all those in Swansea affected by the pandemic – those who lost their lives, their families, our emergency services, social care workers, those who stepped up to support their neighbours and very many more – that we would honour and remember them.

“The memorial will be a permanent focal point of recognition for those that were affected for remembrance and reflection, for the unity that was inspired by our collective experience and hope for the future.

“Swansea’s Covid-19 memorial will be shaped by the voices of those it represents.

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“Through community engagement led by the artists and supported by the council, we want to ensure that the location, design and meaning of this tribute reflect the experiences, resilience and memories of Swansea.”

Elliott King, cabinet member for culture and equalities, said: “It will be a challenging piece of work because, for many of us, the impact of the pandemic was felt at such a personal level.

“We’ll never forget those who died or their families. We’ll all have our own stories and memories of sadness, togetherness and hope, and our aspiration is that this will be reflected in the designs Catrin and Angharad bring forward as a unifying and poignant memorial.”

Catrin and Angharad were appointed following an open application process, inviting UK artists to participate. Both artists have created works of public art located across the UK, including in Swansea.

Catrin created the acclaimed sea-life murals on the new seawall in Mumbles. A 50m work in tubular steel created by Angharad and commissioned by Sustrans can be found on railway bridge sidings in Clydach near the Mond Nickel plant.

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In their successful submission, the artists said any memorial should commemorate not just the bereaved, but also the health and social care staff, the frontline workers, the scientists who developed the vaccines, and everyone else whose combined efforts played some part in combatting the virus.

They’re aware of how Covid impacted – and continues to have an impact on – society through matters such as long Covid, and children and young people in education. It’s planned that their commission will involve community engagement to create an overarching narrative.

Catrin Jones said: “This is an important commission for both of us and we look forward to working together to deliver a meaningful and poignant piece of public art for Swansea.” 

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

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#AngharadPearceJones #Art #CatrinJones #CllrElliottKing #CllrRobStewart #COVID #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil