The first set of exhibition changeovers are set to take place at Museum & Art Swindon this month.
Swindon Photographic Society
The new venue will feature favourites from Swindon’s outstanding modern and contemporary British art collection, as well as displays produced with partner organisations.
The exhibitions, Wessex Landscapes and Hardy’s Wessex, pay homage to the picturesque beauty and cultural richness of the Wessex region (the name for the Anglo-Saxon area of South England from 519AD to 886AD) and offer an unprecedented opportunity to explore the cultural and natural heritage of Wessex.
The Museum & Art Swindon, invite visitors of all ages to experience the charm and inspiration of Wessex, whether they are drawn to the artistic depiction of landscapes or fascinated by the literary legacy of Thomas Hardy.
Wessex Landscapes (running from 26 October to 8 February 2025) is an evocative exhibition showcasing the extraordinary diversity of the Wessex landscape through works from the Museum & Art Swindon collection. Views across rolling hills offer a visual journey across the region’s varied environments. Hardy’s Wessex (also running 26 October to 8 February 2025) celebrates the literary genius Thomas Hardy, taking visitors on an immersive journey into the ideas that inspired some of Hardy’s most iconic works
The exhibition highlights the intimate connection between Hardy’s writing and the rural settings that shaped his novels and poetry. Through a combination of manuscripts, historical artefacts and rare editions of Hardy’s works, visitors can gain insights into how Wessex fuelled his creative imagination.
Interactive displays and multimedia installations bring to life key locations from Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Far From the Madding Crowd, and The Return of the Native, enabling visitors to experience Hardy’s Wessex like never before.
Foundations: The Bomford and Phelps Gifts (running now until 7 December) celebrates the generous donation of artworks by these two local collectors which provided the bedrock of Museum & Art Swindon’s modern and contemporary British art collection. The display includes favourites such as ‘Tower Bridge, London (A Wartime Nocturne)’ by Claude Francis Barry alongside less well known works such as ‘Woman and Bird’, by Louis le Brocquy.
Celebrating 125 years of the Swindon Photographic Society (running now until 7 December) showcases work of current society members. Images include landscapes, urban scenes and the natural world.
Frances Yeo, Swindon Museums Manager, said: “I’m so excited to see the two linked exhibitions of Wessex Landscapes and Hardy’s Wessex at Museum & Art Swindon.
“To be able to combine our own collections so effectively with an exhibition from our Wessex Museums Partnership shows how the Museums team has really thought about our collections, our programme and how these can work in harmony.
“I’m delighted that we’re also able to show some of Hardy’s own handwritten work, helping visitors to glimpse the real person behind these well-known books.”
Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Cabinet Member for Planning and Placemaking, said: “We’ve got an amazing collection of art in Swindon and with the new Museum & Art Swindon location we’ve finally got a suitable venue to show it all off.
“Not only are we able to display works from our own collection, many of which haven’t been seen in over a decade, but I’m also very pleased that the museum is playing host to partner organisations, offering residents access to more incredible works we may not have otherwise been able to share.
“If you’ve not visited Museum & Art Swindon yet, the new exhibitions present the perfect opportunity to finally step through the doors. Or, if you’ve already visited, it’s time to come back and take a look at the brand new exhibitions from the team and our partners.”
Venue: Museum & Art Swindon, Civic Offices, Euclid Street, Swindon, SN1 2JH
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Admission: Free
For more information about Museum & Art Swindon exhibitions and other upcoming events, please visit www.museumartswindon.com
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