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Elysium Art Community Share Offer 2024
Would you like to contribute to creating a vibrant cultural venue and revitalising one of Swansea's most iconic landmarks?

What is Elysium?

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Founded in 2007, Elysium was created to support and promote the arts in Swansea and beyond with an emphasis on collaboration and community.

We are dedicated to fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and innovative creative community through the celebration of contemporary art and the impact it can have on people's lives.

Our mission is to provide a welcoming space where artists, art enthusiasts, and the wider community can connect, inspire, and engage with the transformative power of the arts.

We are an artist led organisation that encourages pride and participation in local visual and performing arts in an environment that promotes education, participation, experimentation, freedom, and appreciation in all creative practices. We are also Wales's largest artist studio providers.

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Why is Elysium introducing community shares?

Elysium plans to renovate the old JT Morgan department store in the centre of Swansea over the next few years and will move all its current projects into one large arts centre in the heart of the city on a permanent basis.

We are introducing the community shares offer to help fund the second phase of the project.

The project will see all 4 floors redeveloped over stages; The first phase, which is complete, was the feasibility study which was completed in June 2024, full details of this can be found in the business plan. Phase 2 includes securing the building and lease, fitting a lift to make all floors fully accessible and replacing the roof and installing solar panels. This second phase will also see the first and second floor turned into 50 studios to be used by artists and the creative industries in Swansea and West Wales, which we hope to complete by April 2025. The third phase will include the ground floor being turned into a gallery, cafe, education centre and function rooms and finally the basement will be converted into more studios and a darkroom, depending on funding, to be completed April 2026.

Your investment will go towards the second phase and help secure jobs and create a fit for purpose environment for the flourishing creative community in South Wales.

Elysium Art has already secured substantial financial support towards this new and exciting project and is supported by Swansea Council, Welsh Government, the Arts Council of Wales and many more. Your membership will help secure the project and create much needed artist studios in Swansea. Sound interesting? For more information please take a look at our business plan in the links below.

Why is this project needed in Swansea?

Currently there is more demand for suitable creative workspace in Swansea than can be met. At present we are constrained by our current buildings, unable to provide enough suitable spaces that we see the demand and need for. Elysium runs over eighty creative studio spaces, three gallery spaces, an education centre, coffee shop, bar and venue over 4 buildings around Swansea. Over the last few years it has become obvious that our spaces are becoming tired and will soon not be fit for purpose, with little room for investment due to the nature of the short-term leases our landlords provide. A move to the old JT Morgan's building would include a 30 year lease, giving us security we have not had before.

Crucially, we are facing the loss of 2 of our existing leased premises, with the leases for Orchard Street, 210 and 211 High Street soon running out, the buildings will be razed to make way for new development on Swansea High Street by our landlords. This will leave a massive hole in the creative sector of Swansea and leave many artists and businesses without premises and support.

The last few years have been challenging for small businesses in Swansea and across all of the UK. The pandemic, government decisions and the cut in funding for the arts have hit hard, however, despite this Elysium has become a successful, established, well respected, inclusive and sustainable organisation.

Your support from the shares sales will enable Elysium to establish a permanent base, securing a home and contributing to the future of the creative community of Swansea!

Thinking of becoming a member?

When you buy shares in Elysium Art you will become a member of our community benefit society, giving you a say on how our studios are run. The money you invest will go towards our £100k target, enabling us to fund the opening of our new venue!

Benefits to membership

Receive a modest interest on your investment
Have your name in the foyer on the wall of donors
Receive our weekly newsletter
Priority tickets for events
Vote at the AGM
Knowledge that you will have been a key part in the creation in Wales's largest studio, gallery and arts centre.