2023 AGM

 Chair's Report:

Friends of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery 

30^th Annual Report

I am going to start my report by thanking the many people who continue to support the Friends despite the fact that it is nearly four years since we had a building in which to meet and to enjoy Swindon’s wonderful collection of 20^th Century British art.  Without our enthusiastic supporters it would have been much harder for the committee to carry on with the business of running the Friends organisation. I would also like to thank the Friends’ committee members for their encouragement and positivity.  I think we have made an excellent team, and would encourage anyone who feels they could spare a little time each month to join us.

Once again this year, a succession of generous speakers have informed and entertained their audiences every month. Many of the talks were recorded and appear on the website: www.friendsofsmag.org . On the website you will also find the excellent newsletters prepared each month by our Vice Chair, Barbara Swann.   Barbara’s newsletters keep you up to date with the progress of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery and with other events and exhibitions happening in the region.

Around a hundred people attended the 30^th anniversary of the inauguration of the Friends which was held at Christ Church Community Centre on 7^th July.  We were very pleased that former Chairs Ray Ward and Paul Ricketts were able to attend and talk about their experiences of the Friends. It was also wonderful to welcome former committee member John Walsh, who talked about his experience of editing the Journal, a publication which many remember fondly and which still makes fascinating reading today.

In October we visited the recently upgraded Kelmscott Manor and had a guided tour with an experienced and knowledgeable guide, followed by an enjoyable lunch. A small group of us also took advantage of a Barne’s coach trip to Lymington one Saturday and visited the “Parallel Lives” exhibition at the St. Barbe Museum and Art Gallery, co-curated by Dr Gill Clarke who had previously given us an interesting insight into the work of the eight artists featured in the exhibition.

I think we are all keen to know when Swindon Museum and Art Gallery will reopen on the first floor of the Civic Offices. No date has yet been announced, but since the new administration took over in May work has taken place to install a lift, and some large galleries have been created by the removal of internal partition walls.  You may also have seen in the October edition of the newsletter that the gharial is now back in the council’s storage after being restored.  She has some new teeth, and very lively eyes.

The Friend’s blog www.friendsofsmag.blogspot.com continues to provide a record of talks and news related to the museum and art gallery. It includes a search facility so you can look things up by typing in key words.

Linda Kasmaty, Chair, Friends of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery

28 November 2023

Minutes of 2022 AGM 

Annual General Meeting

AGM held on Wednesday 26^th October 2022

Artsite, Swindon. 

1.     Apologies for absence:   Lisa & Dick Millard, Meryl Ainslie, Jean & Bill Dickie, Simone Dawood, Carole & David Bent, Kay & Dyson Preston-Wilkes, Sue Gray, Adrian Moore, Andrew Francis, Angela Gillibrand, Martin Savage, Angela Atkinson, Gillian & Don Bromhead, Lucy Abel-Smith, Frances Yeo, Claire Andrews, Kim Hazzard, Jill Petersons.

Present: 23 members, 7 committee. 

2.     To approve minutes of the AGM held on 29^th November 2021:  Previously circulated to all members.  Accepted as a true record. No matters arising.

Proposed: Barbara Swann.  Seconded: Jane Cauldwell.

3.     To approve the annual report:  Prop: Martin Newman.  Sec: David Hughes.

4.     To approve the annual accounts.

As at year end April 2022.   

Proposed:  David Hughes.  Seconded:  Marion James.

5.     To appoint/reappoint auditors and a member to be an observer.

Audited:  Scrutinised by Mark Powney.  Observers: L. Kasmaty and T Carroll.

6.     To elect the Officers and Ordinary Members of the Committee.

Chairman: Linda Kasmaty, elected 2 yr term.  Prop: B. Swann. Sec: J Cauldwell

Vice chair: Barbara Swann,  2^nd of 2yr term.  

Treasurer:  Brigid Harkness, elected 2yr term. Prop: B. Swann. Sec: J Cauldwell.

Secretary: Rosemary Savage. 2^nd of 2yr term.

Ordinary com members:  Angela Atkinson, David Hughes, Martin Newman, Martin Styles.  All elected for 1 yr term.

Susanne Webb has resigned, we thank her for her contributions.

 

7.     To receive reports on the year from Committee members.

·       A Powerpoint presentation by Linda Kasmaty.  There were 10 Talks by Zoom over the last year and 5 Trips. Details of the Speakers are in the Newsletter.

·       B. Harkness, Treasurer, presented accounts. Balance at March 2022 £9815.98.  Income £3718.31, Expenditure £1688.64.  Metro Bank is the main bank and there remains a balance in Lloyds Bank.

·       R. Savage, Secretary, report on membership.  The total is 230 Friends, we have lost some and welcomed new Friends. 

Next year 2023 marks 30 years of the Friends of Swindon Museum & Art Gallery, a Pearl anniversary.  Future talks to be arranged on ‘Antarctic Heritage Trust’,     ‘Pictish Stones’, Ken Stradling collection in Bristol.  The possible preservation of Harold Dearden’s art pieces ‘Salubritas et Industria’ to be investigated with the Collection Manager John Wood.

 .

8.     Proposal to reopen Swindon Museum & Art Gallery at the Civic Offices presented by Matty Courtliff, Cabinet Member for Culture, Heritage, Leisure and Town Centre Experience.  The first floor plans were described with the rooms dedicated to the history of Swindon from prehistoric time, the display of objects and art, storage, schools room, toilets and offices.  Including the corridor wall spaces there will be approximately 60% more space than Apsley House.  Alterations on the ground floor lobby for easy public access.  Feedback very important as access becomes available.

9.     To consider any matter or proposal of which due notice has been given, in writing, to the Secretary or Chair.  None put forward.

10.  Discussion/AOB. 

 

QQuestions from several Friends present in the room to Matty Courtliff:

 

1. Security arrangements for internal eg: storage room contents and for external building.                                                                                   MC- these areas will be covered
 2. Will there be a dedicated curator?           MC- no, there is a ‘curatorial team’ in charge.
 3. Will a design company be used specifically for museum layout?
      MC- no, Frances Yeo will be in charge because this is a 'temporary site'.  This based on       a 10 yr plan and does include attention to the windows and general environmental condition. He did add that the CO could be a perfect site permanently, even the Council Chambers could be used for talks and meetings.
 4. Are there plans to grow the Collection eg: purchases?  MC- not yet but the Arts Council   could be involved.
 5 .Access details eg: disabled toilets.                     MC- identified 2 on the first floor plan.
 6 .Parking arrangements?                                        MC- only disabled places and coach park.
 7. Will there be space for external exhibitions and local artists?   MC- yes.

8. Any prospect of 'installation art' in Swindon?     MC- not known.                        *   
9. Will there be a 'conservation area' for objects?  MC- no, specialist places elsewhere.
10. Are there plans for art in the Kimmeridge building or Town Hall? MC- not his agenda.  11. The Council Chambers and the Mayor's Parlour hold many gifted items,
   might they be put on display?                                MC- Good point to consider.
12. Are all SMAG contents now on-line catalogue?  MC-yes.
13. Curatorial oversight for specialist collections?  MC- good point.
 14. Importance of a ‘schools room’ stressed.

TThe meeting closed at 20.45 hrs.