Museums, galleries and heritage news
Egg-cellent fun in Swindon this bank holiday
There’s plenty going on across Swindon this Easter (29 March to 1 April), with activities in the Borough’s country parks and museums.
Published: Wednesday, 27th March 2024-
New home for Museum and Art Swindon on track to be completed this Spring
The new home for Swindon’s nationally-recognised collection of modern and contemporary art, as well as artefacts telling Swindon’s history, is on track to open this spring.
Published: Tuesday, 19th March 2024 -
Roadmap to revive iconic Mechanics Institute to be put before Cabinet
A roadmap which sets out how one of Swindon’s most famous buildings could be brought back into use will be discussed by Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet next week (7 Feb).
Published: Tuesday, 30th January 2024 -
Work begins on external Health Hydro works as new funding bid submitted
Work to improve the external façade of the Health Hydro has begun.
Published: Wednesday, 6th December 2023 -
Town centre heritage projects awarded almost £700,000 in additional funding
Heritage projects in Swindon’s town centre have been awarded an additional £685,000 from Historic England.
Published: Friday, 24th November 2023 -
Residents invited to have their say on the future of Swindon’s heritage
Residents are invited to attend a special public event, which aims to start a Borough-wide engagement on heritage in Swindon.
Published: Tuesday, 7th November 2023 -
Go time travelling with Swindon Museums this summer
Children and families from across Swindon are invited to travel back in time this summer to explore the town’s rich histories.
Published: Wednesday, 2nd August 2023 -
Work begins to improve Civic Offices for new museum and art gallery
Work has begun this week on making the Civic Offices suitable for the new Swindon Museum and Art Gallery.
Published: Tuesday, 25th July 2023 -
Western Enterprise Model Locomotive arrives at STEAM Museum
Model railway fans from all over the world have been busy putting their orders in for the eagerly-awaited limited edition run of 500 Western Enterprise locomotive models.
Published: Tuesday, 11th July 2023 -
Museum partnership celebrates launch of 3-year Arts Council-funded programme
A partnership of museums in Dorset and Wiltshire marked the launch of a new 3-year programme of exhibitions and community engagement at an event held at STEAM Museum in Swindon.
Published: Friday, 9th June 2023 -
Lydiard Park Hotel relaunches following £2.6m refurbishment
Lydiard Park Hotel and Conference Centre in Swindon was officially relaunched this week at a grand unveiling of the new stylish venue, which was attended by over 130 local businesses and suppliers.
Published: Friday, 26th May 2023 -
STEAM to celebrate Coronation with exhibition by royal photographer Jack Boskett
Visitors to STEAM can see some of renowned royal photographer Jack Boskett’s work for themselves as part of a special exhibition at STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway.
Published: Wednesday, 3rd May 2023 -
Major Swindon tower block in need of multi-million pound investment
Councillors will discuss plans to invest £5m to make the exterior of one of Swindon’s most prominent buildings safe.
Published: Thursday, 26th January 2023 -
Health Hydro regeneration to start in coming months
The first phase of work to transform Swindon’s iconic Health Hydro is set to get underway in a few months’ time.
Published: Monday, 23rd January 2023 -
Statement regarding XTC Convention
Update following the announcement that the XTC Convention would no longer be held at the STEAM Museum, in light of guidance for the national period of mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Published: Friday, 16th September 2022 -
Children time-travel through 1,300 years of history with Swindon Museum and Art Gallery
Children at Chiseldon Primary School had a unique opportunity to travel back to Anglo-Saxon times this week, with a chance to see original 7th century artefacts in their classrooms!
Published: Friday, 18th March 2022 -
New Comic Con to materialise at Swindon’s STEAM Museum this summer
Stars of the big and small screen will descend on Swindon, as a brand-new Film and Comic Con extravaganza comes to the STEAM Museum in June.
Published: Friday, 25th February 2022 -
Work underway to bring University of Bath's iCAST facility to historic Carriage Works
Work is well underway to bring the historic Carriage Works back into use.
Published: Wednesday, 9th February 2022 -
Council appoints Hemingway Design to create a place brand for Swindon’s Heritage Action Zone
Work is underway to put Swindon’s historic railway heritage on the map.
Published: Tuesday, 21st September 2021 -
Swindon’s rich history celebrated with Heritage Open Days this weekend
Over the weekend (11 and 12 September) residents are invited into some of Swindon’s most interesting historic buildings free of charge.
Published: Monday, 6th September 2021 -
Lydiard House Museum to reopen on 5 August
The Swindon Borough Council-owned and operated Lydiard House Museum will reopen its doors to the public this Thursday (5 August).
Published: Thursday, 5th August 2021 -
STEAM launch two special exhibitions celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the GWR Hospital
This year, STEAM is celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the opening of the Great Western Railway Hospital on Faringdon Road with two new special exhibitions.
Published: Tuesday, 27th July 2021 -
Faringdon Road planters given new lease of life thanks to volunteers
An enthusiastic team of volunteers have spruced up Swindon’s Heritage Acton Zone.
Published: Friday, 23rd July 2021 -
Art on Tour offers another dose of art for staff and volunteers at COVID vaccination centre
An art exhibition, which aims to give staff and volunteers a boost at STEAM’s COVID vaccination centre, has been expanded after receiving rave reviews.
Published: Friday, 30th April 2021 -
Swindon Museum and Art Gallery launches virtual exhibition, ‘Optimism: Spring to summer
Swindon Museum and Art Gallery has announced the launch of a virtual exhibition, selected by the committee of the Friends of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, to celebrate Spring and the prospect of bet
Published: Monday, 22nd March 2021 -
Swindon’s STEAM Museum to reopen on 17 September
STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway has announced plans to reopen its doors to the public.
Published: Tuesday, 15th September 2020 -
Swindon Museum and Art Gallery is on the hunt for a creative ‘Family in Residence’
Swindon Museum and Art Gallery is searching for a local family to help put its learning and activity resources to the test.
Published: Tuesday, 30th June 2020 -
Swindon’s STEAM Museum celebrates its 20th anniversary
Swindon’s iconic railway museum will celebrate its 20th anniversary this month.
Published: Monday, 8th June 2020 -
STEAM Museum virtual tour attracts national recognition
Swindon’s STEAM Museum has been ranked among the UK’s top five best 360-degree virtual tour experiences by industry experts Museum Crush – ahead of the world-renowned National Gallery, British Museum, Stonehenge and the Black Country Museum to name a few.
Published: Wednesday, 13th May 2020 -
Swindon Museum & Art Gallery launches ‘Learning Library’ for schools and parent educators
Swindon Museum and Art Gallery has just launched a new online library of free teaching and learning materials to support schools and parents teaching from home.
Published: Monday, 11th May 2020 -
Council encourages residents to celebrate VE Day at home
Swindon Borough Council is asking its residents to pay tribute to the sacrifice and service of the Second World War generation from the comfort of their own homes.
Published: Monday, 4th May 2020 -
STEAM Museum launches 360° virtual tour
People with a passion for railway heritage can now enjoy the various displays and exhibitions from Swindon’s STEAM Museum from the comfort of their own homes during the ongoing coronavirus lockdown.
Published: Monday, 20th April 2020 -
Home is ‘where the art is’
That’s the message from Swindon Museum and Art Gallery which has just launched a new digital project to bring its collection of modern art to people’s living rooms.
Published: Friday, 17th April 2020 -
Christmas at STEAM is coming
STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway will be turned into a Christmas wonderland in two weeks’ time.
Published: Friday, 15th November 2019 -
Excitement building ahead of Great Western Brick Show
The building blocks are in place for one of the biggest weekends of the year at STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway.
Published: Friday, 27th September 2019 -
New Brunel acquisition for STEAM
A very special paper knife, owned and used by the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, has recently been acquired by STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway and is now on public display at Swindon’s award-winning museum.
Published: Friday, 13th September 2019 -
Explore the Wonder of Space at STEAM this summer
STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway will be marking the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing this summer with an exciting visit from a travelling planetarium.
Published: Tuesday, 13th August 2019 -
LEGO® Adventures Coming to STEAM Museum
Swindon’s STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway will soon be opening its doors to a weekend full of LEGO® action and adventure at the Great Western Brick Show.
Published: Friday, 28th September 2018 -
Brunel’s legacy of innovation lives on as refurbished Carriage Works opens its doors
Ambitious plans to breathe new life into part of Swindon’s historic railway works has reached a landmark stage.
Published: Thursday, 7th June 2018