Designed by architect Dale Owen of the Percy Thomas Partnership, the building was awarded the RIBA Gold Medal for Architecture in Wales.

From the outset the Arts Centre pursued a diverse programming policy, supporting local groups and University ensembles as well as inviting leading professional companies.

The first manager, Roger Tomlinson, ran the venue from the planning phases through to 1975, when he left for a similar role with Theatr Clwyd in North Wales.

His programming at Aberystwyth introduced productions that featured well-known names from film and television, such as Pete Postlethwaite and Julie Walters.

The University still received core support, but alternative funding was needed for the artistic programme and the development of the Centre.

Three key strategies were devised: firstly, innovative partnerships for the artistic programming; secondly development of links to the community through a growing community arts programme aimed to be as self-financing as possible; and thirdly substantial expansion of the Arts Centre's earned income by developing its commercial operations.

Festivals were seen as a way to develop the artistic programme and attract interested and committed audiences locally, nationally, and internationally.

The festival now stages more than 30 annual concerts and events, and some 100 young musicians from the UK and abroad attend the Summer School.

Over the next twenty years the Arts Centre established, and helped establish, twelve more festivals whose themes included children's literature, poetry, theatre for young people, international theatre, student media, digital storytelling, world music, world cinema, classic cinema, and horror films.

These festival, set up in partnership with organisations and individuals, have become key programming elements that also help support the work of the University departments.

Through the 1980s and 1990s, the Centre established workshops, studios, cafés, shops and bars, drawing on minimal resources to meet demand and help fund the artistic programme.

£2.6 million from the Arts Council of Wales Lottery Scheme part-funded a major redevelopment project which, after four years of planning and two of construction, opened to the public in April 2000.

The Arts Centre closed in March 2020 and reopened in July 2021 after both the Covid-19 pandemic and refurbishment necessary due to extreme weather damage.

In summer 2021 every wall- galleries and lobbies alike- was given over to a unique exhibition of art that had been made during the periods of lockdown.

The Arts Centre's turnover is almost £3.5m, of which ticket sales and commercial trading operations (e.g. cafés, bars, shops and conferences) account for 78%.

Music concerts, theatre productions, light entertainment, and University events including Graduation Ceremonies are staged in the 1250-seat hall.

The space can also accommodate trade shows, conferences, weddings and other special events that generate Arts Centre income.