Annual Report and
Accounts
2018-2019
For AGM on Thursday
31st October 2019
At Swindon Museum and
Art Gallery, Bath Road, SN1 4BA
6.00pm
Committee 2018-2019
Linda Kasmaty
- Chair
Mike Bradley
- Vice Chair
Rosemary Savage
- Secretary
Paul Gregory
- Treasurer
Katie Ackrill
- Ordinary Member
Erik Burnett-Godfree - Ordinary Member
Kathy Geddes
- Ordinary Member
Ian Wilkins - Ordinary Member
Martin Newman
- Ordinary Member
Rachel Voyce
- Ordinary Member
c/o Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, Bath Road, Swindon.
SN1 4BA
Registered Charity – no. 1050267
Friends of
Swindon Museum and Art Gallery
26th Annual
Report
In last
year’s report, I said I hoped we would have some definite plans for the future
location of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, once again commenting on the
superbly central location of Swindon, with its fantastic transport links. Plans
suggested by the council in March proposed a large centre incorporating a
theatre and concert hall as well as the museum and art gallery, which would
make Swindon a destination and bring to fruition plans to encourage tourism
here. In the meantime with 18 pieces of artwork currently being displayed at
the Civic Offices in Euclid Street, and some at STEAM Museum, the collections
are becoming more accessible. Additionally two part time jobs of engagement
officer and schools liaison officer have been created although we are not sure
when the £400k allocated to improving Apsley House will be spent.
We remain
keen to provide an interesting programme of talks and trips, and I think have
done particularly well this year with a total of five trips, and ten different
talks. It may take me a while, but all talks and trips are written up on the
blog at www.friendsofsmag.blogspot.com where you can see photographs and a
write up about all of them. It has been wonderful this year to have two
exhibitions in the small part of the gallery showing work of two artists living
in Swindon, the first, David Bent talked about his work in May, and Ken White
will talk about his exhibition at the end of November. I have been really
pleased that Friends have been invited to two Private Views this year: this is
a valued benefit of membership and gives Friends a chance to chat to each
other, and other guests.
We are also
keen to raise as much money as possible in order to be able to supplement the income
of the museum, this year we have paid for two restorations and funded materials
a flyer for the very popular children’s workshops organised by Olivia Frost who
also keeps our website updated and refreshed. We will be looking for more ways
to raise funds for the large number of projects needing them in the coming
year.
We are
looking forward to the second Annual Open Exhibition in the main gallery,
submissions closed on 24 October, with the exhibition running from 19 November
until 21 December. This is such a good way of further publicising the museum
and art gallery and encouraging more visitors, and gives artists selected the
thrill of seeing their work on the walls of the gallery.
The Friends’
committee gives invaluable service for which I’m very grateful. As ever there
are changes among the committee members. We said goodbye to Ian Wilkins when he
relocated in July, and Erik Burnett-Godfree has stepped down after a very
productive year. Working with Sue
Pycroft, he has turned the Journal into a magazine! Paul Gregory has been a wonderful Treasurer,
but is stepping down from that role, although remaining on the committee. Adam
Bartoszewski has kindly agreed to replace Paul as Treasurer, and we have been
very pleased to welcome David Hughes to the committee.
We continue
to have concerns about the opening hours of 11am-4.30pm, Tuesday to Saturday.
We do need to be open longer hours and on Sundays to attract more visitors. Signage
directing visitors to the museum is inadequate. Innovative solutions have been
suggested by the Friends, and will hopefully be adopted soon.
Finally and
most importantly I’d like to thank all the Friends for their continued loyal
and invaluable support, , and of course museum staff including Sophie Cummings,
Nicki Western, Tracy White, and front of house staff, who go above and beyond
to make sure everyone has a superb experience at Swindon MAG.
Linda Kasmaty
Chair, Friends of Swindon
Museum and Art Gallery
26th October
2019
Annual General Meeting
AGM held on Thursday 25th October 2018
Venue: Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, Old Town.
1.
Apologies for absence: Ian Wilkins, Rachel Voyce, Gwyneth Weir, Jan Ephgrave,
Christine Tipper, Lyn Davies, J & B Walsh, S & P Webber, Martin Newman,
Gordon Samuel, C & J Stuart, Angela Atkinson, Lesley Andrews, Alan Howe,
Janice Booth, M & E Yates, Nicky Alberry, Vanetta Joffe, Martin Styles,
Vicky Silver.
Present:
44 members.
2.
To approve minutes of the AGM held on 9th
November 2017: previously circulated
to all members were accepted as a true record. No matters arising. Proposed: Martin Savage. Seconded: Jane Fox.
3.
To approve the annual report: Proposed: Sophie
Cummings. Seconded: Mike Bradley.
4.
News from Curator Sophie Cummings: The bid to HLF
for the museum relocation was unsuccessful but work has continued with exciting
exhibitions, acquisitions, restorations and workshops. The Friends have given considerable support
such as the following:
·
A donation to the
purchase of Harold Dearden’s 1945 Swindon painting
·
The new dimension
of family workshops in the summer
·
The museum garden
has been taken over by the Friends, lots of colour and fresh planting, all for
enhancing the environment. The art work
for the new external signs was paid by FSMAG.
·
Several
exhibition changes, the current being ‘Cicatrix’. The Friends committee members now help museum
staff by serving drinks at the Private Views.
·
For the future, a
bid to HLF is in place for a project on post-war Swindon to digitise many
photographs from the 1920’s and the restoration of the herbarium collection. Another project is analysis on Saxon finds including
a sword, found at Brimble Hill near Wroughton.
Stephanie
Vincent post of Collections Manager, funded by Historic England, ends in
November and she will be greatly missed.
Thanks
to the Friends for their part in motivating and challenging the museum,
providing volunteer front of house hours, helping and donating to the workshops.
Thanks
especially to Linda Kasmaty, chair person to FSMAG and the committee members.
5.
To approve the annual accounts 2017-18: Proposed
Mike Bradley, seconded Sophie Cummings.
6.
To appoint/re-appoint auditors:
and a member to be a scrutineer:
Voted: Linda Kasmaty, Rosemary Savage. Scrutineer Maria Drysz.
7. To elect
Officers and Ordinary Members of the Committee:
Retiring
members Paul Ricketts and Ray Ward both long-serving Friends. Paul has supported the Friends for many years,
some of them through difficult times, ensuring the continuing interest in art
and artefacts in Swindon. His work on
the committee is highly valued. Ray has contributed enormously with his
knowledge of art and his editorship of the Journal publication. Their dedication to the association has been
absolute, for which the committee offer heartfelt thanks.
Mike Bradley will take over as Vice
Chair. Kathy Geddes and Erik
Burnett-Godfree join the committee. All
members up for re-election will stand.
Proposed:
Melinda Smith. Seconded: Kathy Geddes.
8. To receive
reports on the year from Committee members:
·
Linda Kasmaty: more
Friends volunteered for front of house and to assist at childrens’ workshop
days.
·
Paul
Gregory: it was a good year, the total
grant to the museum was £5,130. This
included £2,148 on the decision to reduce the balance held the previous year. Items which received monies were: Peter
Waldron sponsorship £250, HLF presentation film £1,000, museum’s new signage
artwork £480, Eileen Cooper painting £2,500, exhibition sponsorship £500,
organic restoration £400.
Total
income increased from £8,003 to £9,164
Talks
and Trips income increased by £1,229 to £5,117
Membership
revenue increased by £400 to £2,601
Bar
sales and raffles increased by £474 to £723.30
Donations
£723.
It
remains important that we increase fundraising activities, all of which must
make a surplus. The membership fee will
need to increase to £15.
·
Katie Ackrill: Talks:
50 finds from Wiltshire with Richard Henry, Kate Malone, Ceramics
collections and museums with Mike Yates, Cicatrix with Katie Ackrill, Janet
Boulton with Sophie Cummings, British linocuts with Gordon Samuel, Beginner’s
guide to modern German art with Sophie Cummings, Swindon’s cellars, towers and
tunnels with Jon Ratcliffe.
Trips: wine tasting at Magnum in Wood Street, a
coach trip to London for own choice viewing starting at Tate Britain, visit to
Urchfont Manor in June for the Sculpture Exhibition.
·
Linda Kasmaty
outlined several events for the coming year eg: cheese and wine evening this
December, and 5 talks planned every month from February 2019. Trips are planned to visit Victoria Art
Gallery in Bath, Corsham Court, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Pangolin Gallery in
Chalford.
·
Rachel Voyce:
fundraising! Goals for 2018-19 include professional object photography,
conservation of 1960s aerial photography of Swindon, acquisition of iron age
coins found near Chiseldon, conservation of Roman wine strainer and summer workshops.
·
Mike Bradley: this has been a busy year, the effort
involved towards the HLF bid and now the adjustment and continuation to promote
Swindon Museum and Art Gallery in the changed circumstances.
Other
highlights included the unveiling of the restored Harold Dearden painting,
entertaining Friends of Victoria Art Gallery Bath, volunteers at front of house,
the workshops for children in the holidays and some weekends, and the colourful
artwork signage and the gardens.
It
is vital to remember the importance of this Museum and Art Gallery, the Friends
can be instrumental in promoting events, supporting by fundraising, suggesting how,
write articles for the Journal, volunteer at the museum, help at the
events. Join the committee.
9. To receive
updates on progress to locate Swindon Museum and Art Gallery: following
a public consultation this year, results have been published and enclosed with
the AGM notice. Unfortunately no member
of SBC was available to attend this meeting and to date no decision has been taken
as to the future location.
10. AOB: None.
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