Future of museum and art gallery project in safe hands as Dr Rod takes up director post

By Ben Fitzgerald - 23 May 2017

Arts and Culture

The future of Swindon’s Museum and Art Gallery project is in safe hands following the appointment of new director Dr Rod Hebden.

He has taken over following the unexpected departure of previous SMAG director Hadrian Ellory-van Dekker last month and is brimming with optimism about the future of the £22m scheme and the host of benefits that it will bring to the town.

Dr Hebden, who started in the role last month, is seemingly undaunted by the task at hand, picking up the reins where his predecessor left off.

“I have been heartened by the welcome that I have received since I took up the post, it’s really encouraging.

“We were 10 months into the project when Hadrian announced that he was leaving and we still have six months to go until the deadline for submitting our application to the Heritage Lottery Fund,” he explained.

“It’s very important that we keep up the momentum.”

He is aware of the concerns of the project among detractors and keen to address these head on as one of his key priorities.

“There’s not been enough of a consultation with the people of Swindon over the new museum. I’m keen to reach out to those people because I am aware that they are passionate about the future of Swindon and ultimately we all want the same thing - to see the town prosper. We just differ in terms how that can best be achieved.

“I’m aware that some people are arguing for the new museum to be housed in the carriage works and before taking on this role I did look carefully at the viability of housing the museum there. I have concluded that it is simply not the right building there are a lot of reasons why it could not go there.

He added that there was no reason why SMAG cannot work alongside those who want to see the rich heritage of the town preserved.

“I have an engineering and science background and I am passionate about the railway heritage of Swindon -  I understand where they are coming from. The two projects should be complementary. The new museum and art gallery will boost investment in the town which will in turn provide the council with more money to help preserve the Swindon’s heritage buildings and rejuvenate the town centre.

“It is vital for the success of the SMAG project that everyone feels that they have a stake in its success - that people living in Swindon feel that they are part of it. This project is bigger than one person.

Swindon Borough Council submitted an application to the HLF in 2014 for funding which was ultimately unsuccessful - but Rod explained that addressing the shortcomings of that application had it has helped the trust put together a very strong application this time around.

“Essentially the project needed more development. This time around we have set up a trust board, we’ve got a good design. I’m very hopeful that we are in with a good chance of getting through the first stage.”

The application will have to compete for a share of a national pot of money against a range of other schemes from around the country. If successful, Swindon’s museum and art gallery application will be put forward to a second stage, where it will be considered in greater detail against rival bids.

“It is a lot of hard work, but the good thing is that it means that we have to really plan out the project in detail - which is very valuable in the long run. I’m sure that we could work out what some of the rival bids are but we are just focussed on making our bid the best it can be.”

Dr Rod Hebden, a father-of-four from Rodbourne Cheney, has a science and engineering background. Indeed, he is a self-confessed science nerd with an insatiable curiosity about the world around him.

Rod is no stranger to dealing with the Heritage Lottery Fund and has a track record of leading and developing major projects in the heritage sector, having worked with national museums and heritage for over a decade.  

When working at Science Museum in London, Rod led the successful second stage of their Heritage Lottery Fund submission to secure £6m for a major gallery.

Rod was previously a member of the Swindon Heritage Board and a board member for the Love Lydiard Trust, the community group formed of local people in partnership with Lydiard staff to bid for the running and management of Lydiard House and Park. He is also an active member of his local Residents’ Association.

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