The Project

The Empty Shops Project is a community arts programme that will use vacant retail shops and turn them into creative spaces and workshops for all to see and do. In doing so we want to help regenerate Newport’s retail centre with ingenious, thought-provoking arts. 

Our ultimate aim is to engage the general public with the arts and the arts with the general public (and have lots of fun at the same time!).

The concept of uniting empty retail premises and local artists to aid city centre regeneration has been around in the UK for a few years. The idea gained greater prominence when the UK government recognised the contribution that these collaborations could make to their city centre regeneration plans and started supporting the programmes financially.


Until now, no major projects involving vacant retail spaces have taken place in Wales. Community Arts Development have taken on the task of taking over some of the empty shops in the City Centre and are pushing to make it the first, prominent empty shops project to take place in the area. 

With support from Newport City Council’s Economic Development and Estates teams with regards to rate relief and access to the premises plus the invaluable voluntary help in organising the project; the Empty Shops Project is able to extend opportunities to artists, community groups and anyone who is interested in the Arts, to express themselves for free and have their work easily accessible to the public of Newport

Empty Shops Project is funded by Newport City Council, Newport Festival 2010 and Arts Council Wales.