Aberdeen Arts Centre (AAC) has unveiled its ambitious £1 million redevelopment plan, which includes an overhaul of the exterior of our iconic grade A listed building, as well as a bold plans to launch the former Children's Theatre as a revamped standalone cultural space.

The artist's impression shows how the redevelopment fits into the city's proposed Queen's Square, the transformation of the existing Queen Street area into a new mixed-used urban quarter.

A new frontage and viewing platform over the Children's Theatre signpost the community arts venues with additional performance space, improved facilities and a rejuvenated community engagement agenda.

The city has recently welcomed the completion of Aberdeen Art Gallery, the Music Hall, Marischal Square, Provost Skene's House and the surrounding Broad Street area. Over the coming months, work on the regeneration of Union Terrace Gardens should also be finished.

And at the end of last year, the city growth and resources committee further approved the demolition and site clearance of the Police Scotland headquarters with a development brief for the Queen Street area.

The vision is to transform the area into Queen's Square, a residential-led urban quarter in the historic heart of central Aberdeen.

Involving a £30million land investment by Aberdeen City Council, the city centre masterplan envisages linked courtyards and wynds, including a pedestrian link from Union Street and a new central square adjacent to the Arts Centre.

It is believed the development will include a hotel, 350 apartments and 9,000sqm of leisure and retail development, with an estimated construction cost in initial phases of £50million.


The masterplan sees the Arts Centre forming part of a "vibrant urban quarter that is active through the day and into the evening".

Our own redevelopment plans reflect a similar level of ambition while delivering on other cultural and civic strategic aims. 

Moray Barber, the chair of our board, said: "The Arts Centre is the city's community-focused venue that provides accessible and inclusive theatre and arts experiences for everyone.

"And these new plans reveal how we will step up and support a thriving cultural economy that will transform our city centre.

"The benefits that a venue like the Arts Centre brings to the city are significant. 

"When empowered, communities produce incredible work and we believe that Aberdeen Arts Centre is the hub for such activity within the city.

"The city's cultural strategy acknowledges that cultural organisations have to work collectively to create an environment that empowers all our citizens to engage in or with cultural activity. 

"We've been championing this since the early 1960s and we will continue to do so because we recognise the value this brings to all our lives."

Over the last five years, the city has made a significant investment in capital developments to support and enhance the city's cultural scene. Most significantly, these developments have included the multi-million pound re-developments of two of the city's iconic cultural institutions - the Art Gallery and the Music Hall.

Following the Covid lockdown, the Arts Centre opened with social distancing almost a year ago - one of the first venues in Scotland to do so - and we're looking forward to a bright future. 

The first phase of refurbishment work has already begun. With help from the City Heritage Trust and Historic Environment Scotland, plans are underway to upgrade the building exterior and a detailed survey was undertaken recently to establish the extent of the required works, estimated at around £600,000. 

An investment of £100,000 is improving disabled access and facilities, including the installation of two lifts, toilet facilities as well as an external ramp to make the iconic site as accessible and inclusive as possible. 

"Taking guidance from the great team at the City's Heritage Trust and working closely with representatives from Historic Environment Scotland, Aberdeen Council and other key stakeholders, we are very confident that the required funds can be raised to ensure this investment takes place," said Moray.

"However, this is all dependent on getting an extension on our lease from the council. We're looking for a 25-year extension on the current lease which runs out in 2025."

As well as growing its income through commercial activities and venue hire, the Arts Centre is also broadening its offering with wellbeing programmes such as yoga and meditation, as well as continuing our outreach programme to schools and community centres and its commitment to creative learning.

We are also consolidating links with the multicultural groups throughout the city, creating a regular programme of diverse and engaging events while acting as a testing ground for artists, creative enterprises and new ideas.

Local professional actors and writers are being encouraged to test out new writing in a safe and relaxed setting, as well as throwing open their doors to performers at new open mic nights.