Minister for Social Transformation Rawdon Turner has expressed confidence that the National Performing Arts Centre will be completed in time for the opening ceremony of the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), scheduled for November.
According to Antigua.news, Turner recently hosted Foreign Affairs Minister and Chairman of the National CHOGM Task Force E. P. Chet Greene on a guided tour of the former Deluxe Cinema on High Street, which is currently undergoing an extensive transformation into the state-of-the-art venue. Greene requested the visit to gain a firsthand assessment of the project's progress and confirm that the September completion target remains on track.
Following the tour, Greene offered strong praise for the work undertaken by Turner and his team. "I am pretty impressed and no amount of kudos is enough for Minister Turner and his team for the work that they have done here," Greene said. "I am quite pleased with how they have maximized the internal space for greater seating capacity. This represents creative thinking."
Turner reported that major structural works are nearing completion, with the final stages of cement work expected to wrap up by the end of June. The project will then enter its finishing phase, encompassing the installation of seating, carpeting, soundproofing, and advanced audio-visual systems.
When completed, the facility will accommodate just under 900 patrons and feature a two-tier balcony, positioning it among the largest and most sophisticated performance venues in the region.
Turner highlighted several design innovations central to the venue's acoustic performance. A specially engineered double-roof system is designed to eliminate noise disturbances caused by rainfall during performances. "We have a layer of galvanise and then on top of that is insulation, purlin and then another layer of galvanise," Turner explained. "What that does is provide very good insulation in terms of sound-proofing. Just imagine that you are in a theatre and it starts to rain; you don't want the noise of the rain on the roof to be disturbing the performance taking place inside."
Acoustic wall panels and specialised carpeting will further enhance the sound quality within the venue, Turner added.
"This is going to be the most elaborate purpose-built facility of its kind, certainly in the Eastern Caribbean," the minister declared.
Looking beyond CHOGM, Turner said the centre is expected to serve as a lasting cultural and entertainment hub for Antigua and Barbuda, providing a permanent performance home for local artists and opening new avenues to incorporate the creative arts into the country's tourism offering.
