An exciting plan to create a cultural hub in Swindon could soon take a significant step forward.
Next
Wednesday (11 Dec) Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet will be asked to
approve that a site off Princes Street, which would include the soon to
be demolished Wyvern Theatre car park, be used to house the town’s
museum and art collections in a new purpose-built facility.
The
site, which is next to the Wyvern Theatre, was chosen following an
options appraisal by heritage specialists Barker Langham as it fits in
with the Town Centre Masterplan and the Council’s Economic Strategy,
which notes that a new Museum and Art Gallery would help to improve
Swindon’s external image and act as a draw to businesses considering an
investment in the Borough.
Owned
by the Council, the identified location could also be used for a range
of uses such as performance spaces, public realm or offices and housing.
The
Cabinet will also be asked to commission further detailed feasibility
work for the proposed museum and art gallery within the context of a
‘cultural quarter’ that would also include a new theatre in the same
vicinity. The feasibility work would also be required to identify the
most appropriate business model to generate on-going revenue and capital
funding to support the facility into the future.
A
new home for the Borough’s museum and art collections is an aspiration
of Swindon Heritage Board, while a visit by HRH the Duchess of Cornwall
to the town’s art gallery last year resulted in significant interest
from local potential benefactors who are extremely supportive and keen
to help the project. This group is being led by Robert Hiscox, Honorary
President of Hiscox Insurance, who is himself a substantial art
collector.
Swindon
has one of the best collections of 20th Century art outside of London,
but, due to the size of the current Swindon Museum and Art Gallery in
Bath Road, only a limited amount of the artwork can be displayed at any
one time.
A
new art gallery and museum would meet a number of objectives set by an
advisory group which has been overseeing the development and delivery of
the work by Barker Langham.
These
include maximising the regeneration and economic benefits for Swindon,
enabling the current collections to grow and become world class, to
generate cultural tourism and to ensure a positive and sustainable
future for the collections.
If
the Cabinet support the recommendations the Council will also apply for
financial support for the project from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Cllr
David Renard, Leader of Swindon Borough Council and chairman of Swindon
Heritage Board, said: “I am really excited that our long-held ambition
to find a new home for our superb art and museum collections is starting
to take shape.
“If
these plans are supported by Cabinet it will act as the catalyst for us
to really move forward with this project to provide a real cultural
legacy for the Borough.”
Cllr
Garry Perkins, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the
Economy, Regeneration and Culture, said: “The site identified in the
cabinet report ticks a number of boxes but the fact that it ties in with
our Town Centre Masterplan is very important.
“We
already have hundreds of millions of pounds being invested in the town
centre through the major regeneration schemes that are currently
underway and a cultural quarter in this location would link these
developments together.”
Robert
Hiscox added: “The Swindon Museum and Art Gallery has a fascinating
collection of Modern British and Contemporary Art, but the collection
deserves a better home and it is inspirational that the Council, the
politicians and local people have united behind the vision of building a
new one.
“A
new museum and art gallery would bring a cultural vibration to the
heart of Swindon and be a vital part of its regeneration and a great
asset to the whole region”.
Hugely excited by the proposal. This could be a huge catalyst for the renaissance of the town and is by far the biggest opportunity we've seen in decades.
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