Chapter Arts Centre

Market Road, Canton,
Cardiff, CF5 1QE

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Related Websites

Chapter Arts Centre (Official)

Additional Info

Functions: Community Arts Center, Movies (First Run), Movies (Foreign), Movies (Independent), Movies (Revival)

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 440292.030.4400

Nearby Theaters

Chapter Arts Centre

A redundant school building situated about 100yards from the former Canton Cinema (closed 1960) was provided as the site for an ambitious project to create an Arts Centre with workshops, exhibition spaces, theatre and cinema. It began operations in 1971.

A row of classrooms was fitted out with curtains, screen and some old cinema seats. At first projection was by 16mm Bell & Howell and a regular audience was soon obtained.

Improved seating was installed and to become a full public cinema a set of Gaumont-Kalee equipment was acquired and restored to use. The Kalee arcs were subsequently replaced and the audience benefitted from seats bought from the closed Capitol Cinema.

By 1987 funding was obtained to build a completely new cinema;Chapter One, seating 194, with a screen approx 24' wide and Cinemeccanica projectors subsequently upgraded from Dolby Stereo to Dolby Digital. Digital Projection may be installed soon.

The original cinema was closed and the space re-used. However, a second cinema had been created by a private society and became part of Chapter, as Chapter Two, seating 68 with more basic seating and equipment and catering for a minority audience.

Contributed by Geoff

Recent comments (view all 10 comments)

AdoraKiaOra
AdoraKiaOra on August 13, 2007 at 11:18 pm

I found this a most unpleasant experience whaen i was there last in the late 80s

geoffjc
geoffjc on August 14, 2007 at 10:14 am

Ian must have been there pre-1987, during the early years when things were a bit basic, but that was reflected in the admission price.
The new build cinema was a great step forward and certainly better than similar-sized auditoria in high-street triple/twins, and has given excellent service for 20 years and the future for which refurbishment is planned.

AdoraKiaOra
AdoraKiaOra on August 14, 2007 at 10:21 am

Thats great to hear E54. I get to Cardiff 2 or 3 times a year so will check it out if i can soon.

AdoraKiaOra
AdoraKiaOra on August 14, 2007 at 10:28 am

That is stunning! Wow!

Ian
Ian on August 17, 2007 at 8:12 pm

A couple of photos taken in 1989 here:–

View link

View link

geoffjc
geoffjc on January 8, 2008 at 11:04 am

Refurbishment of both cinemas at Chapter is a part of an extensive improvement plan to deal with problems with the 100-year old main building and improve the theatre and entrance areas.A number of fund-raising initiatives are in place and work is expected to begin in 2008.

AdoraKiaOra
AdoraKiaOra on January 8, 2008 at 3:09 pm

Yes that is most certainly not the place i went to all those back. Thanks 54.

geoffjc
geoffjc on June 23, 2008 at 12:52 am

Building work and refurbishment starts today and will involve reduced performances and temporary closure of the cinemas for a time over the next few months. Check the centre’s web site for details.

geoffjc
geoffjc on February 16, 2010 at 10:14 pm

The refurbishment and modernisation of Chapter is now complete.

geoffjc
geoffjc on April 28, 2013 at 12:12 pm

Almost all films are now presented by digital means in both cinemas.

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