Agenda item

Councillor Dale Heenan, the Cabinet Member for the Town Centre, and the Head of Planning, Regulatory Services and Heritage, submitted a joint report on Swindon’s heritage and its established and diverse arts and cultural offer. The report recognised that the offer is currently provided at a number of locations, some with limited visibility, and that some of the facilities housing historic or cultural items and activities are difficult to access and in need of investment.

The report advised of the requirement for a co-ordinated and cohesive strategy for how heritage, arts and culture are accessed in the future, and that the most immediate priority was the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery (Swindon MAG).

It was noted that the Council owns and operates Swindon MAG, which houses an outstanding modern art collection of national importance, alongside largely locally-sourced artefacts of historic significance and that the collections deserve greater visibility, bringing cultural and educational benefits to a wider audience. 

The report recognised that, in line with the adopted Town Centre Masterplan, great potential exists for the development of a wider cultural quarter and civic offer focussed around the Wyvern\Old Town Hall\Regent’s Circus area and recommended that work is undertaken towards scoping a comprehensive cultural quarter providing a permanent solution. It was felt that this will also give the best opportunity to display the collection and ensure the long term sustainability of Swindon MAG.

It was noted that the report also responded to the motion at Full Council on 24th January which agreed to “ask the Leader of the Council (to) present a report to Cabinet considering the options of how the Council can organise Swindon’s own trail with sculptures decorated by local artists and use it to raise money for the GWH Brighter Futures appeal”. In response to the motion, the report proposed that a Member Working Group be established to determine how this project could be taken forward, unlocking opportunities for private sector sponsorship.

Councillor Heenan introduced the report and responded to questions put by Councillors Bob Wright, Stan Pajak and Jane Milner-Barry on the following issues:

·        The opportunity to use revenue from the sale and/or redevelopment of the civic offices for investment in the maintenance, improvement, and sustainability of Swindon’s heritage buildings.

·         The need to ensure community engagement on proposals relating to the wider development opportunity for the area around, and including, the Wyvern Theatre.

·         The possibility of developing a hybrid approach, where ‘pop up’ exhibitions and displays of the art and museum artefacts could take place.

·         The viability of the current operating model for Swindon MAG and the mitigation of the proposed £20k budget reduction in its operating costs.

Resolved – (1) That the production of a viable and deliverable masterplan for a rebuild of the Wyvern Theatre, that includes (but is not limited to) a theatre, a new civic focus and a replacement Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, as a cultural quarter for Swindon, informed and supported by a master planning exercise to be funded through a Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP) grant of £250,000, be approved.

(2) That the principle that appropriate items from Swindon’s art and museum collection should be displayed at ‘pop up’ or rotating exhibitions within heritage and civic buildings around the town, and, subject to relevant safeguards being in place, be made available for local business display, be endorsed.

(3) That a one off budget of up to £100,000 be approved to support the use of space for this wider display of existing art and museum artefacts.

(4) That a budget of up to £400,000 be approved to undertake essential improvements at the Swindon MAG at Apsley House.

(5) That a new Council pledge, that “Every Child will be encouraged to visit the Council’s museums including the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery as a learning opportunity while they are at school”, be approved.

(6) That the Council’s role as a facilitator to support accessible art and culture, including short term sculpture trails, which promote local talent, and may be auctioned for charitable causes, be endorsed.

Councillor Milner- Barry made a personal, non-prejudicial declaration of interest in her capacity as a “Friend of the Museum”.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.