Page 24 - link magazine

Georgian elegance of Bath; the created to make the regeneration
ancient landscape of Stonehenge happen), are thinking about the
and Avebury; the history of opportunities for new cultural
Oxford; and the beauty of the and education facilities in The
Cotswolds. We also live next Promenade. Overall, the area
door to Cirencester, Reading and around Theatre Square and the
Newbury, not to mention the ease new Central Library could offer
with which London can be reached 60,000m development space and
2
from here. Such a location can include gallery or museum spaces;
provoke the idea that the people cafes, restaurants and specialist
of Swindon travel to these places shops; provision for work space
for their cultural fill. Well, if for new enterprises and creative
Swindonians are prepared to travel and performance industries;
for culture, they must be very and improved public spaces.
cultural indeed! Maybe there is And, there is room in there for
just a hole here that needs filling. attractive spaces where the people
Certainly the South West’s cultural of Swindon can enjoy their new
infrastructure strategy which is town.
poised to transform our cultural Of course, Swindon has been in giving us things to do but
landscape over the next 20 years, on the brink of regeneration also in contributing to people’s
takes this view, pointing out that:
takes this view, pointing out that: perception of our place.
perception of our place.
“The region has many
“The region has many Let’s face it, Swindon
Let’s face it, Swindon
has a few perception
has a few perception
problems - for example,
problems - for example,
TV personality Dom
TV personality Dom
Joly described the town
Joly described the town
as “the Bronx of the
as “the Bronx of the
Cotswolds”!
Cotswolds”!
But what is amazing
about Swindon, is that
about Swindon, is that
everywhere you go, people
everywhere you go, people
know about the town and,
know about the town and,
most of the time, they
most of the time, they
mention our name with
mention our name with we carry ourselves with a simple
a smile. What is it about
a smile. What is it about zest for life and a positive attitude
Swindon that makes us towards hard work? Such an
Swindon that makes us
so unique, so individual? approach put Swindon at the
so unique, so individual?
And can we use this forefront of the railway industry
individuality to help us and has since led the borough to
stand out amongst the attract businesses from all over the
more obvious cultural world. Is it this unique, pioneering
offers around us, like spirit that drives our musicians;
Bristol, Oxford, Salisbury etc.?
Bristol, Oxford, Salisbury etc.? our sportspeople; the people of
before, and we are very unlucky What are the flavours, sights and Swindon? Is this what our culture
before, and we are very unlucky
What are the flavours, sights and
cultural assets. It also has some that a recession has struck now. sounds that collectively make up is all about?
that a recession has struck now.
sounds that collectively make up
significant gaps.” But that does not mean things will all that is great about Swindon Well, maybe... But whatever it
not happen - not if we really want
A New World not happen - not if we really want and its people? is, it will only grow and improve
and its people?
them to happen. It just means the Our motto if we are dedicated to its growth,
them to happen. It just means the
Our motto
Such gaps will provide genuine road we will have to travel down is: “Salubritas and if our dedication is not based
road we will have to travel down
is: “Salubritas
opportunities for Swindon. will be that much harder - but et Industria” on dreamy ideas, but on what
will be that much harder - but
et Industria”
we’re used to road systems that
We are currently poised to start we’re used to road systems that (Health and actually happens: on what the
(Health and
a complete regeneration of the other people struggle with! Industry). Do people of Swindon have already
other people struggle with!
Industry). Do
town. Quite rightly, much of the If we think of Swindon’s rich done, what they are doing now,
If we think of Swindon’s rich
new building work will be for heritage, or and on what they want to do
offices, shops and houses/flats. But the variety next – whether it’s playing in a
culture, whatever the people of of sporting brass band or a football team,
Swindon decide that means, will activities watching a play or a skydiving
also be a real and very important that happen display, making a pot or potting
part of the regeneration. Our new in the town plants. This is our past, present
town will not emerge simply today, and future.
through bricks and mortar; there culture This is Swindon’s culture.
needs to be more to see and do, clearly has a
part to play in
more and better public spaces, and part to play in Note: More information and the
the town’s past,
even a bit of beauty! the town’s past, full document that this article is
Already, the people at the New present and based on can be found at:
future, not only
Swindon Company (the company future, not only www.swindonculture.org
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