Hi there.

We are a Swedish couple who lived in Australia for the last 7 years. We recently (4 months ago) moved to Spain to pursue the idea to open up an artist retreat here but have realized that it’s not really what we truly want to do and that an artist retreat is only a small part our main goal.

What we really want to do is start an artistic movement that aims to create a positive social and environmental change through their art. That is our main goal and dream.

We want to do this by initially start up a community consisting of a housing co-op/artist retreat and educational center where we can support people who want to be a part of our movement by giving them either a permanent community to live and grow in, a temporary retreat from the outside world where they can learn about us as well as get support to grow as artists and human beings and last we want to have very simple dorms for people who only comes for the classes and workshops.

We believe that education is the cure to almost every single problem we face on this planet and our belief is that by giving the artists, who are the inspiration and role models of our society, the weapons to fight ignorance by education through entertainment and art, is the best way to start this change of a more responsible and knowledgeable world. We believe that entertainment is the key, that when people are enjoying themselves they are more susceptible to information and education. We’re not talking about “on the nose” crap entertainment where people are trying to push their beliefs down your throat in a very obvious way but instead quality entertainment with a purpose that makes the viewer think like for example Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club or the TV series Dexter. Or artists like John Lennon, Bono or Eddie Vedder. Entertainers with something to say that live and breathe that same positive message. That’s how we change the world because those are the people that the masses listen to.

Since we made this breakthrough in what our ultimate goals are we have also realized that by moving to England and by being in close distance to such an influential city as London we can reach out to a lot more people with our ideas and work. We’ve also found out there is a great support system for community and co-op housing that would be very beneficial to us as well.

So now our first goal would be to find funding for our idea:

To set up a housing co-op for artists in a rural location within about 1-1,5 hour travel distance to London. We would want to make it a sustainable and eco-friendly house for 5-15 people to live permanently.

We would also want to have a retreat facility. A short term self-serviced and self-catered accommodation for approx 5-15 people that we would run as a non-profit business. Here we can let artists and creatives come and learn and work while at the same time get support and guidance from the permanent occupants.

We also want to set up a educational center where we would have seminars, classes and workshops in everything related to holistic learning and art education. Everything needed to become a better human being as well as artist. We would also want a dorm room or two for 6-18 where people only interested in staying for the classes and workshops could stay. Here is a list of subjects we would like to have classes or workshops in: Raw food, health, psychology, philosophy, politics, non-religious spirituality, writing (film, TV, video games, novels, genre, graphic novels and any sequential art), arts & craft, film making (directing, acting, editing, sound production, special effects), drawing & painting, music (instrument, composition, genre), lifestyle, simplicity, sustainability, ecology, permaculture, gardening, critical and radical thinking. These are just the ones I can think of at the moment so it’s in no way a complete list.

We are hoping to have simple private accommodation for everyone with shared common areas such as a big kitchen (where we can also hold cooking classes), a home cinema & game room, library, laundry.

We also want to have a recording studio, film equipment room, editing suite, gallery (where we can exhibit artists work to the public) where our artists can work and create their art. These could also be rented out to the public to generate more income for the co-op. We would also like an outdoor area big enough to hold events such as concerts, festivals and markets.

The construction of the buildings, the way we will live everyday life and all our courses & workshops will be filtered through our value systems and our goals of creating positive change in the environment, humanity and society. We will live as sustainable as possible and try and have as low impact on the environment as possible but we are not technophobes and we embrace technology which supports this. We believe there is technology that supports our humanity and helps us grow and technology that enslaves it and even possibly destroys it and like everything it’s a balancing act to where you draw the line. We love nature and believe it’s a big part of our humanity as well.

If we are successful in our goal of setting up this we would love to support and help other people set up their own housing co-op’s. We would even consider doing a “franchise” out of our concept of artistic housing co-ops.

We are also interested in joining and supporting anything we feel have the same goals and ideals as we do and we will participate in charities and charity work if we believe in it. We do not believe we can save the world one cause or species at a time but we believe in a more holistic approach to saving the planet.

Anyone interested in joining us or anyone who can help or support us with anything should contact us as we will need all your help and support and if you know how to raise fund we would warmly embrace any help we can get!!

info@therogueelephantretreat.com

  Status: Looking for members