Swindon Museum and Art Gallery facts for kids

Museum & Art Swindon is a cool place in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. It used to be called the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery. Right now, it's closed, but it's getting ready to open its doors again in Spring 2024! It will be an exciting place to explore art and history.

Amazing Art and History Collections

The Museum & Art Swindon has some truly special collections. They show off art, history, and even ancient rocks and fossils!

The Art Collection

The art collection started way back in 1944. A kind person named H. J. P. Bomford gave many artworks to start it. The gallery focuses on important British artists from the 1900s and 2000s. Many artworks were given by groups like the Art Fund and the Contemporary Art Society.

The collection includes paintings, cool photographs, and unique studio pottery. You can find works by famous artists like:

• Simon Carter
• Amanda Ansell
• Ben Nicholson
• Henry Moore
• Lucian Freud
• Graham Sutherland
• L S Lowry
• Paul Nash
• Steven Pippin
• Terry Frost
• Roger Hilton
• Howard Hodgkin
• John Hoyland
• Richard Hamilton
• Gwen John
• Augustus John
• Maggi Hambling
• John Bellany
• Tony Bevan
• Ivon Hitchens
• John Piper
• Christopher le Brun
• Dennis Creffield
• Lisa Milroy
• Julie Umerle
• David Leach
• Lucie Rie
• Hans Coper
• Gillian Ayres
• Linda Ingham
• Robert Priseman
• Sheila Fell
• Eileen Cooper
• Grayson Perry
• William Turnbull

Local History and More

The museum also used to show off local archaeology, which is the study of old human history. It had displays about geology, which is the study of Earth's rocks and history. You could learn about Swindon's Jurassic past, when dinosaurs roamed!

There were also exhibits about the Roman Empire and how it connected to Swindon. Plus, you could explore the town's social history, learning about how people lived long ago.

The museum was also a place where the yearly Swindon Festival of Literature happened. This festival celebrates books and stories!

What's Happening Now

The museum had to close its doors in March 2020. This happened because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected everyone. It hasn't opened again yet.

Until June 2021, the museum was in a building called Apsley House. This was a beautiful old house from the 1800s. It was in Swindon's Old Town.

However, the local council decided the building needed big repairs. So, the museum had to move out. Don't worry, all the amazing art and historical items are safe! They are being kept in storage for now. The council has promised that the museum will have a bright future.