Council and pressure group working together towards solution for museum and art gallery
19th August 2021
Pressure Group and Council Liaise
SBC has confirmed that they are reconsidering the museum and art gallery’s current home, Apsley House on Bath Road as an option to house the art and museum collections until they find a suitable alternative venue.
Apsley House houses Swindon’s historic artefacts and its renowned collection of modern British art. Like other museums and galleries, this council-owned Grade II listed building closed at the beginning of lockdown, in line with Government regulations. When lockdown restrictions lifted, the council proposed that Apsley House should not reopen. The reason being that they viewed the cost of repairs and alterations as too high. The council has plans to build a Cultural Quarter at Kimmerfields in the town centre at some point in the future. This cultural quarter will include an art pavilion and museum space.
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SOMAG – Save our Museum and Art Gallery
A group of people, concerned at the time-frame involved until the collections have a new home, formed the Save our Museum and Art Gallery (SoMAG) group. They also started a petition to have the building reopened as soon as possible.
SoMAG also wants the collections to remain at Apsley House until SBC finds a new home. One that makes them at least as accessible to the public as they were before the museum and art gallery closed.
Liaison
SoMAG has liaised with Swindon Borough Council officers and with Councillor Robert Jandy. Cllr Jandy recently took over the portfolio for culture, heritage, leisure and the town centre. Together they’re trying to agree a way forward that is best for the people of Swindon and the collections themselves.
Councillor Jandy and a spokesperson for SoMAG, Linda Kasmaty, have now announced the inclusion of Apsley House in their options for the museum and art gallery collections.
‘We made our feelings plain to the council. We’re pleased and appreciative that Councillor Jandy has spent a lot of his time meeting with us and listening. And further that he’s now made a swift response.
Looking forward
We look forward to continuing to work with him and his officers towards getting Apsley House back open as soon as is workable. It’s vital that as many people as possible can go back through its doors. And that the very popular workshops for children in the school holidays resume. Many parents have told us that their children are missing our famous gharial – the Swindon croc. They’re so looking forward to seeing her again.’
Councillor Robert Jandy said; ‘Coming from a strong arts and culture background, I know how important the sector is to people’s health and wellbeing. With what has happened over the last 18 months, we need it now more than ever.
‘To this end, it has been gratifying to meet and work with passionate and knowledgeable individuals. Our aim has always been to ensure that the museum and art collection is not kept in storage. And, further, whatever solution we come up with, we must do all we can to build on the work that’s has already taken place. Thus we can share it with as wide an audience as possible.
‘We want all our residents to have the chance to see our wonderful collection. It is a collection to be proud of – let’s share it far and wide!’
A keen SMAG supporter
South Swindon MP Robert Buckland said: ‘I have worked at close quarters with Culture Cabinet Member, Cllr Rob Jandy and SMAG on this issue. I’m glad that the council are currently considering and exploring all options about the future of our museum. As a keen supporter of SMAG, I have asked them to keep me updated, on behalf of all the local residents who have contacted me. I want to see a stable and bright future for our wonderful art collection and other artefacts.’
See also the Friends of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery:
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