Exciting plans are underway to convert a vacant Swansea store into a vibrant arts hub
Swansea: Big changes are coming to the old JT Morgan department store. It’s been sitting empty for ages, but now it’s getting a new lease on life as an arts centre. Contractors are finally on-site this week to kick things off.
Dan Staveley, who runs the Elysium gallery and studios, is leading the charge. He’s got big plans for the place, starting with a new roof, a lift, and a fully accessible entrance. Plus, they’re creating 63 artist studios on the upper floors. Sounds pretty cool, right?
They’ve managed to secure £1.8 million for the first phase, thanks to some government funds and community support. Dan’s super excited about it. He mentioned it took three years to get to this point, and it’s a huge boost for their business.
Looking ahead, if they get the funding, the second phase will include a ground-floor gallery, an education centre, a café, and even a quiet room. Out of the four buildings Elysium currently uses, only the High Street bar and music venue will stay as they are.
Back in February last year, Dan pointed out that over 100 artists are renting space with Elysium, and they really needed a bigger spot. The JT Morgan store has been closed since 2008, and it was briefly occupied by a group in 2012 after they were evicted from another place.
Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, who’s in charge of investment and tourism, expressed his delight about the project. He believes it’ll not only revive the building but also boost the local art scene and attract more visitors to the city centre.
