Despite the council denying ruours that Swindon Museum and Art Gallery is to close, The Friends of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery have today launched a petition opposing proposals to close its current home at Apsley House in Swindon’s Old Town before an alternative space for the collections is identified.
It has emerged that Swindon Borough Council officers have prepared a paper titled “Closure of Aspley House and Consideration of how the service is provided in the Future”, which recommends that Apsley House be closed on a permanent basis and the premises be declared surplus to operational requirements.
The paper also recommends that council officers seek alternative provision and, where possible, display the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery collections for the enjoyment of current and future generations.
However, Friends of the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery fear that if the current premises are closed before an existing alternative building is identified, the nationally acclaimed collection of modern British art, together with the priceless collection of artefacts that illustrate Swindon’s story from prehistoric times to the current day, will be mothballed and remain out of public view for many years, and possibly permanently.
Linda Kasmaty, Chair of the Friends, started a Facebook group yesterday, Sunday 4th July, called “Save Swindon Museum and Art Gallery” which already has more than 1,000 members.
Linda Kasmaty said: “Apsley House certainly has its problems in terms of access and as a result of a lack of investment in the fabric of the building, but while there is no alternative gallery space for showing the art and museum collections to the public, it makes no sense at all to close it. It’s dreadful that that outcome is even being considered, let alone recommended.
“We are not well served with cultural offer in Swindon, something which has made Swindon the butt of jokes for years, despite having a nationally acclaimed collection of 20th century British art. There is potential for the art and artefacts to go into storage and not see the light of day until a proposed new building in the proposed cultural quarter has been built to house the art and ceramics collections.
“While we recognise the cultural quarter is a great ambition, time lines slip, and it could easily be ten to twenty years or more before the ambition is realised. And the timing of the proposed closure could not be more bizarre, at a time when Swindon is making a bid for city status. What kind of city is it that can’t allow its children to learn about it through its rich collections of artefacts, or can’t offer a dedicated space for its citizens to look at the wonderful artworks that they collectively own?”
“After the 2019 failed Heritage Lottery Bid, the council allocated £400,000 to make improvements to the building. Those funds have yet to be spent,” said Linda Kasmaty.
“The concern and outrage that so many people have expressed over the recommendations for closure in 24 hours alone demonstrates what a well-loved facility the museum and art gallery is. Yet, as things stand at the moment, a single Cabinet member can sign this recommendation off and make the closure a reality. That cannot be right, and that is why we are asking as many people as possible to show the council that the people of Swindon deserve better than this.”
Swindon MP Robert Buckland has also asked to be kept upto date with any council plans on the future of the museum saying “Following the news yesterday evening, about a proposed closure of the Old Town Museum, I have been in contact with Council Leader, David Renard and Old Town Ward Councillor, Nick Burns Howell.
“Over the coming days, the Council will be exploring options about the future of our museum and I have asked to be kept fully informed as I am a keen supporter of SMAG and want to see a stable and bright future for our wonderful art collection and our other artefacts.”
