The sale of Apsley House

 I'm aware the blog has been fairly quiet on the future of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery recently, this post is intended to update you on where we are now. Apsley House, the former home of SM&AG has now been emptied and Swindon Borough Council have agreed to sell it. Aware of the vital role it does play in the Swindon community, the Friends applied to make it an asset of community value, and this was agreed. At last night's talk on 75 years of listing, Martin Newman of Historic England led us through the history of listing and reminded us that Apsley House was one of the first buildings to be listed in Swindon:

Interestingly, the 1960s gallery extension was also listed later.

The Swindon Advertiser has published three articles about the sale which is attracting a lot of interest unsurprising really bearing in mind the importance of this building:

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/20238734.apsley-house-closed-swindon-museum-art-gallery-sale/

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/20234790.swindon-museum-art-gallery-building-put-at-risk-list-save-britains-heritage/

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/20240664.response-proposed-sale-swindon-museum-art-gallerys-former-home/

What is the future of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery? In March, SBC applied for planning permission for a change of use of  the first floor of the Civic Offices, to temporarily open the museum and art gallery there until the Cultural Quarter is built on the Kimmerfields site. Currently you can see some paintings and ceramics in the entrance to the Civic Offices and Committee Room 3, on Monday-Friday 9-5pm.

Friends committee members are meeting with Cllr Matty Courtliff, Cabinet member for culture, heritage, leisure and town centre experience, on a monthly basis to keep them updated and enable discussions about the shaping of the future of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery.