The Friends of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery (FSMAG) welcome the appointment of Rob Hebden as interim Director and reaffirm the charity’s support for the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery Trust and the project it is undertaking to create a new museum and art gallery in the town centre.
FSMAG is fully committed to working with the Trust to create a new museum and gallery where Swindon can show off many more of our fine artworks and museum objects and ensure their preservation in a state-of-the-art building. It will be wonderful to be able to host visiting exhibitions, something Swindon has been unable to do for decades. We also expect the new museum and art gallery to make a very positive contribution to the economy of the town.
The Chair of the Friends Linda Kasmaty said:
“The Friends have been working with The Trust on this project since its inception and our members are very excited about the plan and the design for the new building. Many of us already know Rod Hebden from his previous work in Swindon and think he is the ideal person to progress the bid which is scheduled for submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund in November.”
In the run-up to submission of the HLF bid the Friends will be stepping up their activities to raise awareness of the wonderful collections the museum and art gallery contains, in addition to their normal programme which includes educational activities and fundraising. The latter has been particularly successful over the last year, including the conservation of two paintings from the collection, support for a project for the archaeology collection and the purchase of a piece for the ceramics collection.
Membership of the Friends has been steadily increasing since the plans for a new museum and gallery were announced, demonstrating growing awareness of and support for the project in Swindon.
