Wonder Arts - A wonderful history

At Wonder Arts we believe that magical artistic experiences have the power to change people’s lives. 

Our vision is to bring artistic experiences to children, young people and families, who rarely have the opportunity to engage with the arts, to create profound and positive life changing impacts.

Wonder Arts (previously Citadel Arts Centre) is a children and families organisation operating exclusively in non-traditional spaces in the St Helens public realm. We provide high quality arts experiences for children and family audiences who would not otherwise engage with arts venues.

We provide artistic experiences that are different to the norm, creating happiness and enjoyment for the whole family, contributing to people’s well-being and enhancing the life of local communities, children, young people and families.

Wonder Arts is a building free organisation. We work exclusively in the public realm, in communities and in outreach settings delivering arts activities for children and families.

We provide a model of engagement which takes arts out into local communities, engaging people in spaces where they feel safe, have ownership and can access easily.  We engage participants and audiences in their own communities to improve mental health and wellbeing, build skills, improve life chances and create contented, connected communities.  Proving engaging with the arts in community spaces can make a positive impact on people’s lives.

Before we became Wonder Arts, we had a rich history in St Helens as Citadel Arts and at The Citadel Arts Centre.

Citadel Arts Centre

From 1988 to 2019 we operated the Citadel Arts Centre venue. The Citadel Arts Centre was based in an old Salvation Army ‘citadel’, built as the original home of the Theatre Royal in 1861.  Bought and refurbished in 1986 by the Rainford Trust, following a report on arts provision in the borough, the Citadel Arts Centre opened in April 1988.  The Citadel Arts Centre became a registered charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee with an independent board in 1992. In March 2000 the Citadel Arts Centre reopened after a £1million lottery funded refurbishment with a mixed music, theatre and community programme. We were so proud to operate the venue, with world-class activities and with the support of Johnny Vegas as our patron. 

Citadel Arts 

By June 2019 the building-based model had become unsustainable financially, artistically and for audience and participant reach. Operating a building was becoming increasingly out of step with the charity’s community work with children, young people, and families. So, we took the bold move to close our beloved venue and deliver our work in the public realm and community settings.The new Citadel Arts model gained the backing of Arts Council England and survived the global Covid-19 pandemic to become a hugely successful organisation in its field. In 2021 the Citadel Arts Centre building was purchased by a local property entrepreneur and began operating once again as an arts-based venue. Having the Citadel Arts Centre and Citadel Arts operating in the town became confusing for audiences so by 2022 from Citadel Arts we created wonder arts…