The supply and installation of a fixed-dome planetarium at North Wales Science (trading as Xplore! Science Discovery Centre)

Xplore! has recently been awarded Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF)-Transition Fund capital and revenue awards. Xplore! is therefore now looking to create an immersive fixed-dome planetarium with associated AV equipment and appropriate software licenses for high quality STEAM content delivery to a minimum capacity of 30 visitors in each viewing.

The planetarium will be the only fixed-dome planetarium in north-east Wales, providing a unique attraction for Wrexham. It aligns with the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act by ensuring future prosperity of Xplore!, its employees, and a cohesive community by contributing positively to STEAM capital for the people of Wrexham.

In this way it will provide a platform for Xplore! to develop the personal interest of participants and connect them to the local space industries and potential careers. We have the full support of John Whalley CEO of Space Wales and Rachael Blackburn of Aerospace Wales, with our engagement activities aligning with the needs of the local space sector and associated supply-chain.

Our activities will also compliment the activities of Jeremy Howitt at Snowdonia Aerospace, providing a strong link between North West Wales and North East Wales schools, who in time will have access to space-related activities through both organisations. The planetarium will be situated on the first floor of Xplore’s city centre building, which is not currently accessible to all.

The project will therefore also enable the installation of a platform lift, as well as refurbishing the stairwell, and re-locating the staff offices from the ground floor to the first-floor space. The planetarium is expected to be fully operational by March 2026. It is expected that the planetarium supplier will work with the construction contractor through 2025 and early 2026 to ensure successful completion of the overall project.