Page 5 - link magazine

The Link M ine • March 2003
Looking for an image makeover for Swindon Vote for The Link
Rosa Matheson. director of the independent organisation Swindon Arts, Readers and listeners are being
says it can be done by celebrating art and culture
invited to nominate items to the
Few have not seen the TV series, got excited about an tion is proposed. first Annual Wiltshire Journal-
'Changing Rooms' where flam- old flour mill in Gates- What the town needs ist Awards, sponsored by Swin-
boyant designers swiftly trans- head? However, it's is to wake-up to the don FM.
form the ordinary, the tired and now already known possibilities of using There are 8 categories to cover
dull, or the haphazard and unco- in shorthand as 'the = the arts, in all their the best newspaper, broadcast-
ordinated into the stimulating and Baltic' and excites and forms in the widest ing and magazine pieces: best
often challenging but stylistically informs national pub- possible way. It feature, sports story, headline,
complete, with imaginative use lic debate in the me- should: scoop story, a story by a new-
of colour, textiles and creative de- dia and academia. It • incorporate the comer (less than 3 years in jour-
sign, along with innovative allows Gateshead to arts into both short nalism), best reporter, photog-
artworks and cultural influences, be an 'exporter' of its ;° and long-term strat- rapher, press / public relations of-
Withoutdoubt,forthosepeople own Arts culture. egies right from the ficer.
who participate in the process of whilst 'importing' a Rosa ,'vlat{ic^on and Swindon start, not as a 'bolt- Voting closes in mid-March.
changing their rooms, art, culture large number of tour- Arts chair Maurice Fanning on' depending on Go to www.plumweb.co.uk ,
and design initiate changes in their ists . spare cash; click on the NUJ logo or call Pe-
thinking and attitudes and make a Edinburgh, Scotland's windy • let arts, design and culture in- ter Foley on 07778-454514.
significant impact on their lives, city, has one of the biggest and form and influence its co-ordinated The awards ceremony on 22
Love or hate it, it evokes strong most successful festivals in the vision, especially through the ex- May, compered by Swindon FMs
reactions. world, but it started on a small tendedtowncentreandOldTown; Shirley Ludford takes place at
OK, I hear you say, but it's all scale as did the literature festival • ensure the preservation of what the Goddard Arms Hotel, with
superficial, cheap and easy, not in Hay-on-Wye. All these help to little heritage buildings it has; guest speakers Jeremy Dear and
built to last. Nobody is pretending drive and generate healthy, local • create arts' projects to 'export' Michael Wills MP.
it is. What it is showing is, that economies, its own cultural strengths, such as
with a co-ordinated vision, creative Changing image through the arts a tour of its 20th Century modern
thinking and a will to make it hap- isn't a fantasy, it can happen. The art collection and the expertise and
THE Need
pen, we can achieve quick wins astonishing change in people's per- talents of Swindon Dance;
through the arts. ception of Glasgow from the brut- • develop our creative and digital COMPLETE curtains
Taken on a grander scale, towns ish city of Rab. C. Nesbitt to the industries; CURTAIN or blinds
and cities in many countries have European City of Culture was • give itselfsome'quickwins'with SERVICE made?
woken up to the power of the arts brought about by extensive invest- revitalised, vibrant public spaces;
to change their image and the qual- ment in the arts and facilities. • champion high-profile arts Design, making and complete
fitting service available
ity of their citizens' lives. Swindon's Festival of Literature events such as festivals - jazz Large range of material samples
Who would have gone to indus- has already changed impressions 'THINK ART,' film, literature,
trial Bilbao before the building of of the town, with a tiny budget. street - and more. Free estimating and advice
y
the amazing Guggenheim Mu- We are now at a most exciting If we bring the arts into our Call Trace or Amanda on
seum of Modern Art? time. Massive redevelopment and lives they will bring life into our 01793 611051
Closer tohome,whowouIdhave extensive town centre regenera- town.
_" Home Sew Curtain `7.-Z
Supplies
Is the university going to be in the right place? 1 00's of fabrics in stock
from £2.50/metre
Few can argue against the development of a univer- there has been little questioning as to whether more
Heading from 25p/metre
sity in Swindon. And the announcement by the Gov- greenfield land should be gobbled up for the univer-
Lining from £1.50/metre
ernment in February that it would support the provi- sity campus, as well as several hundred new houses.
Cushion pads from £2 each
sion of 8.000 student places is to be welcomed. Jean Saunders. campaign co-ordinator for Swin- L., All types of rails r3
However, for all the pleased back slapping in the don Friends of the Earth, expresses another view-
business community, the council and local media, point on the proposal.
Link readers will remem- a university on rural how houses are being bulldozed Home visits arranged or
ber Swindon Friends of buffer land between the in the north of England because
the Earth's concern some hospital and the nation- employment opportunities are all
five years ago about the •'' ally protected wildlife concentrated in the south.
traffic and environmen- site. Development corn- It's a mad country that we live
tal implications of mov- panies want to cover any 'in.
ing Swindon's hospital y remaining countryside
to an out of town left with houses that
greenfield site. All along, presumably, would be
we argued that a public out of reach of the pock- Ample free parking odybliss
facility of this dimension ets of nursing staff and Open late evenings • Creche B Health & Beauty
should be located in the students. Private and friendly salon
town centre in order to reduce car And guess what? The students Gift vouchers Swindon's
dependency and to be more acces- who will have to travel to the out- Laser hair removal clinic
sible to all. skirts, instead of the town centre 01793 821355 for men and women
We were told that there would site originally mooted for a new Stratton Leisure Centre Probably best rates available
be no increase in car traffic if the university, will be able to attend Grange Drive, Swindon
hospital moved to land near courses on Environmental Stud- Most major credit cards accepted Hai,-Hemova!.
Commonhead roundabout as ies! They can study how planning
other measures would be intro- decisions can have a devastating Collagen therapy
duced. We were told that the hos- affect on biodiversity and on peo- Thread vein removal
pital would not set a precedent for ple's lives. They can learn how Semi permanent make-up way;•
further development at Coate. traffic generation and out-of-town
Now we learn that the nature development has had a negative # Facials 0 Nail extension ' St Tropez tanning 4 Electrolysis
reserve at Coate Water is under impact on the viability and vitality a Waxing 9 Massage • Nailtiques manicures ' Lash perming
further attack by proposals to build of town centres. They can learn