Swindon’s Cultural Heritage Institute
Swindon is Britain’s only large town with no university. There is a university in Gloucester, a university in Reading and TWO universities in Bath. And they even have a university in Oxford – who knew?
But not in Swindon. Yet that has now changed.
Yes folks it’s panto time. ‘Oh no it isn’t!’ I hear you cry. ‘Oh yes it is!’ I respond.
This afternoon I’ve bean (see what I did there?!) to a marvellous matinee performance of Jack and the Beanstalk at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon.
Wassailer Robin Burton will entertain guests in Malmesbury this month by sharing the history of a practice commonplace in the South West until the early 20th century.
Malmesbury Museum Gets Codebreaking Donation
The family behind a well-known Wiltshire company has donated £5,000 to the Athelstan Museum in Malmesbury. The donation came after they auctioned a rare private letter from codebreaker Alan Turing to the founder of the Linolite brand.
Culture Fund Award to RPA
Swindon’s Revolution Performing Arts, is one of 925 organisations receiving a share of more than £100 million awarded to cultural organisations across the country.
14th November 2021 Richard Jefferies Wild LifeSo, last weekend saw me in the delightful company of many familiar faces for the launch of this book, by Mike Pringle, at the Christ Church community centre: And the back cover: Back cover of Richard Jefferies wildlife by...
SWINDON THEATRES TO RAISE FUNDS FOR MOBILOO AT THEIR PANTOMIME Swindon Theatres Mobiloo FundraisingAs Swindon approaches Christmas and the fun and frolics of panto season, Swindon Theatres are on a mission to create an accessible experience for even more families this...
Lovers of swing and jazz music are in for a treat as the Wiltshire-based ensemble FTO Big Band takes to the stage at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Young people from RPA (Revolution Performing Arts) Rapport CIC are working hard to make their next amazing live Swindon performance a visual and musical feast.
Many Swindonians are up in arms right now. The reason? Swindon Borough Council’s decision not to reopen Swindon’s museum and art gallery when Covid restrictions lifted. That’s a long story not for telling here. Suffice it to say, this decision is mystifying in so many ways. Not least of which is that it’s so at odds with the current message from both government and arts organisations. That message being that people want museums and cultural activities on their high streets more than they want pubs.
A SoMAG response to a question
NB: I’ve edited the following only for the purposes of SEO &YOAST
Dr Barbara Swan sits on the committee of the Friends of the Museum and Art Gallery. At SBC’s cabinet meeting on 13th Oct 2021 she asked this question of the Leader: ( a title I can’t hear without thinking of Daleks …)
Can the council explain the financial logic of selling off a substantial piece of property in a prime location [Apsley House], at a time when interest rates on cash deposits are very low, to part- fund a project that has no starting date as yet?
Given that property is the one asset that historically increases substantially in value, what’s the financial argument for selling the building now? Surely it makes far better sense to make the necessary repairs (which we understand you’re making in order to make it saleable) and hang on to it so the council can get maximum benefit from its future appreciation in value?
Having written a short piece on my memories of The Oasis, it feels timely to think back on another important, but threatened piece of Swindon heritage, the Bath Road Museum.
