Swindon Museum and Art Gallery adds to permanent collection

The museum has acquired new artwork, including two large abstract paintings by Dee Ferris, said Marina Strinkovsky

A museum said it has added more than 260 new historical artworks and artefacts to its permanent collection ahead of its reopening.

Swindon Museum and Art Gallery is in the process of moving in to a new space on the first floor of the Euclid Street building.

It has been closed for nearly four years, and has been acquiring new art in that time.

The council expects the museum to reopen in spring.

Swindon Borough Council's cabinet member for heritage, art and culture, Marina Strinkovsky, confirmed the additions to the permanent collection in a report prepared ahead of a council meeting on Monday.

"They include a wooden case containing small geological specimens, two large abstract paintings by Dee Ferris and 38 items related to the Covid-19 pandemic, including material from the Vaccination Centre at Steam Museum," she said.

"These items, as with others already in our collections are available for researchers, and will be available for display at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery as well as for loans to other suitable venues."

Ms Strinkovsky's report also says that with a spring opening for the new museum and gallery still anticipated, staff are already planning exhibitions.

She said: "The new facility will also feature exhibitions on subjects as diverse as 'Hardy's Wessex', 'Elisabeth Frink: A View from Within' and 'Double Take' featuring existing works from the collections, alongside new works by artists and young people."