“Artsite has been in Theatre Square for the past ten years. Occupying empty council owned buildings, playing a much needed part to regenerate the area. Our aim has always been to create a sustainable hub within the Cultural Quarter, providing creatives an affordable and supportive space to develop themselves and through it the town centre.
As a charity, we are totally self funded through our studio members and mainly run by volunteers. Over that time we have built an inclusive arts complex for access by creatives from across the community. Affordable spaces in which to make, experiment, take risks, collaborate, bring people together socially and have fun without pressure or fear of failure. Promoting and celebrating the wealth of talent within the town, we have worked with and mentored students and degree graduates and championed the strength of the arts and mental well being. The pressure to maintain a program and the buildings throughout these years has been immense. Vandalism has not only cost us much needed money but time and energy. Over the past year we have been looking for funding to add artwork to the boarded broken windows to make the area more attractive and give opportunities for artists in Swindon. The first mural is being painted with help from the community and it will be in place during May. Artsite are also working with InSwindon to add some colour through another mural in Regents Street.
Swindon has a richness of hidden talent within the town with more graduates coming back home to live. Compared unfavourably with Bristol It would be good to see the large businesses within the town supporting the arts as a way of making the town centre more vibrant."
Sally Taylor of Artsite
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