EVI – Ebbw Vale Institute is a building full of story and culture. Founded in 1849 to promote cultural exchange in the neighbourhood, it was vacant for a number of years before undergoing extensive refurbishment. It is now a vibrant community and cultural centre for Blaenau Gwent and surrounding areas.

This building now provides a programme of creative and community activities, learning and social enterprise development helping to revitalise the economy of Blaenau Gwent.

EVI is home to a variety of organisations including Communities for Work Plus, Blaenau Gwent Youth Services, Gwent N-Gage, Cyfannol Women’s Aid and ACT Training (based in our second building, 44 Church Street).

The regeneration of the building has been developed by ProMo Cymru with support from Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and the local community. Funding provided by the Big Lottery Community Asset Transfer Scheme has enabled EVI to keep its doors open as a community and cultural centre. Additional funding was provided by the Heads of the Valleys initiative with sponsorship from Sennheiser.

EVI’s mission is ““To work with local communities and beyond to create a centre of excellence to be proud of in which people can participate in, learn, create and be entertained, in keeping with the original ethos of the Ebbw Vale Institute”