Wrexham community arts space in pleas for donations

Ty Cornel, the current home of Undegun Arts, consists of a gallery and creative space, along with affordable artist studios and incubation spaces.

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Katie Brute, Undegun Arts chair and member of the board of directors, said: "Ty Cornel provides an affordable, safe, and supported environment for local artists at all stages of their careers, particularly those who are not in a position to afford their own studios.

"Following a challenging few years, which have included the pandemic, struggling to secure new premises during lockdown, rebuilding our gallery and studios and recovering from the financial effects of prolonged closure, we are now urgently seeking funds so we can get back on our feet and continue operating.

Creative space at Undegun Arts in Wrexham. Photo: Oliver Stephen Photography

"We believe the services we provide at Ty Cornel are absolutely essential for supporting the thriving arts and culture scene in Wrexham.

"We support talented artists to be able to live, work and develop their practice right here in the city centre, where they enrich our fantastic, local creative community. This community contributes enormously to so many great things that happen in Wrexham and add huge value to our national cultural credentials.

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"We support emerging and early career artists and post-graduate students, as well as artists with disabilities, neurodiversity, and mental and/or physical health conditions. Some 88% of our current members fit one or more of these categories.

"The services we provide and the projects we deliver build on years of hard work and experience gained by the dedicated team at Undegun Arts.

"To lose Ty Cornel would mean losing all this established history and the support network we provide, which would be a real tragedy for grassroots arts in Wrexham."

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Local photographer, Oliver Stephen credits the social enterprise as a life-changer. He said: "The arts have always been a strong presence in the town, even if people aren't aware of it, and for me, the arts are what make life worth living. They're the way of escaping, if only temporarily, the struggles of day to day life.

"Personally, I wouldn't have the life and dreams I have now if it weren't for Ty Cornel. I came to this town 15 years ago, severely depressed, dealing with past trauma, suicidal, and an alcoholic.

"Coming to Wrexham to study Fine Art started the change in my life, but it was Undegun that gave me direction. It's where I began to take photos.

Creative work at Undegun Arts in Wrexham. Photo: Oliver Stephen Photography

"Years later and I'm at the point where I've had solo shows, my work has been published. I've also found incredibly deep and strong friendships I wouldn't have found anywhere else but there.

"On top of that, and far more importantly, I've been sober for almost the entire time Undegun/Ty Cornel has existed, and I can directly link my sobriety to the hope that the community there gave me, and the space it gave me to learn my craft.

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"To see it disappear wouldn't just leave a building empty in town, but it would leave a massive gap in my heart and I suspect in others too. We would lose a cultural hub. We would lose part of the community."

Katie added: "We are very optimistic that we'll be able to get back on our feet and secure sustainable funding in future, but in order to survive until then, we need urgent financial support to pull us through this hugely challenging period. Without this, there is a very real danger that we will lose our home at Ty Cornel very soon.

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"We care deeply about our town and are personally committed to working with the creative community that exists here.

"We believe the arts and culture can make this town, and the world a better place, and that it is important to retain the community we have established at Undegun, so the spirit of creativity can flourish.

"All proceeds raised by Undegun Arts go back into making more things happen in the future."

• You can find out more about their fundraiser by visiting: https://gofund.me/02eabd9e