Public Art
studio three sixty is responsible for the strategic planning, project management and delivery of the Public Art scheme for the new building. Our mission is to create and commission public art which is inspirational and inclusive – art that speaks to the history and communities that are intertwined with the building, and that can enhance Theatr Clwyd’s reputation as a beacon of artistic excellence.
To develop these commissions, we formed a steering group that included local and national representatives, and agreed a set of core themes that would underpin the commissioning strategy. These included playfulness/joy, sustainability, and community/cultural heritage. As part of the initial stages of the process we also invited two artists to undertake research residencies at the theatre.
From this work, we devised a mixed strategy of direct commissions and open calls. Rather than commissioning one well-established artist to produce a single commission, we decided it would be more in keeping with the theatre’s spirit to commission several artists, including early-career practitioners. Some artists were invited to respond to specific spaces; some to particular parts of the theatre’s history; some a particular material. Others were invited to spend time embedding themselves at the theatre and develop a proposal based on that experience.
The result of this work will be eight site-specific commissions. These include a vast tiled artwork; a screen-printed mirrored artwork; a 33m curtain; an interactive treasure hunt; murals, and an oral history project exploring the history of the theatre’s television studios.
The first artwork was installed in May 2025.
On site installing the first artwork: Frances Priest’s Steller, a 15m long tiled artwork
Interior Design
Our role involves collaboration and coordination with the architect, client team and project managers to ensure the public art strategy and external design teams are working in harmony towards a shared goal, whilst also managing scope, budgets and project timelines for these interdisciplinary teams.
For this project we have brought together a hugely talented team of artists, designers and makers from a range of different backgrounds and perspectives. Our role is to encourage and guide them towards a cohesive outcome to create an inspirational and positive place for the whole community of Theatr Clwyd.
We have also been responsible for choosing furniture for the theatre’s public foyer spaces, as well as community meeting rooms.
Core Themes
Through these two areas of responsibility we have worked with Theatr Clwyd to identify three key themes for the building:
Sustainability: The redevelopment is being driven by a desire to create a building that reduces energy use and minimises the impact of the materials we use. Further consideration is also being given to wellbeing, adaptability and resilience.
Community: At Theatr Clwyd the voice of the community is embedded in the artistic and organisational life of the building. They have learnt that to deliver meaningful work you have to build trust with a specific, local community and then grow collectively. The commissions need to build on these existing relationships and the ethos of the organisation.
Playfulness / Joy: There is an aspiration for the building to be joyful and fun to interact with for both adults and children. Engaging with the building through play will encourage social interaction and active learning.
Above all, we are passionate advocates for the theatre and the community it serves, ensuring that the design vision exceeds their goals and expectations.