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About The Citadel

The Citadel Arts Centre is based in an former Salvation Army Citadel, built as the towns original Theatre Royal in 1861.

As a result of on Arts provision in the Borough, commissioned in 1984 by Merseyside Arts and St Helens Council, the building was bought and refurbished by The Rainford Trust. The Rainford Trust is a charity set up by members of the Pilkington family to provide focus for the disparate arts activities emerging in the Borough and a response to the needs of young people.

The Citadel was opened in April 1988 by Richard Luce MP, Minister for the Arts who subsequently singled it out as an example of good practice in the Arts sector. It quickly developed a good reputation and was voted top music venue in the 1991 Liverpool Post and Echo Arts Awards. The Citadel became a Company Limited by Guarantee with an independent board in 1992.

By the end of 1995 the Citadel had become an annual revenue client of North West Arts Board and acquired Charitable Status. After careful appraisal of its market it began developing its own Artistic Programme in consultation with its funders, moving towards a mix of bought in products covering a variety of art forms, education and outreach work projects and community Arts.

In March 2000 the Citadel reopened with an eclectic music programme and followed this with the launch of 'Hands On' the Citadel's vibrant community arts programme in 2001. The Citadel celebrated its fifteenth birthday in 2003 with Johnny Vegas becoming patron and the Citadel was voted one of The Independent's top ten jazz and blues venues in 2004.

Despite the withdrawal of Arts Council funding in 2008, representing a third of the Citadel's income we continue to go from strength to strength, striving to give alternative artists a voice and an audience. Over the last year we have continued to deliver a diverse and eclectic programme, attracting regional, national and international visitors.

In 2009 the Citadel celebrated its 21st birthday. We are sure you will agree we have achieved an awful lot. This anniversary provides an ideal time to highlight our reputation for being the place to come and see something extraordinary, engaging and emergent, with past performers including Candie Staton, The Verve, Kiki Dee, Midge Ure, Geno Washington, The Stone Roses, Family Mahone, Peter Kay, Happy Mondays, The Bluetones, Nine Below Zero, The Dylan Project, Ralph McTell, Charlie Musselwhite, Wishbone Ash, Jah Wobble, Hazel O'Connor, Dr Feelgood, Simon Day, Rich Hall, Sean Hughes, Space, Cast, The Seahorses, Jo Brand, Jenny Éclair to name just a few.

For full details of the Citadel's programme please visit our 'What's On' pages.