Museum & Art Swindon

Museum & Art Swindon Museum & Art Swindon It was established by local benefactor, H J P Bomford, during 1944 from a generous donation of works.

For information on our Art on Tour programme, go to https://artontour489147035.wordpress.com/


Swindon's remarkable art collection has a reputation as one of the best of British 20th Century Art outside London. Swindon Museum has displays of local history, archaeology and geology. The museum displays tell the story of Swindon's Jurassic past, its connections with the Roman Empire and the more

recent social history of this thriving town. Swindon Museum and Art Gallery have various events running throughout the year. More details on exhibitions and events, plus our access policy, can be found on our website - www.swindonmuseumandartgallery.org.uk. Facebook Communication - Please note that due to the number of comments we receive on Facebook, we are not always able to respond. If you would like to ask a question regarding Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, please email us at [email protected].

The Pot is the Woman! Tour of Beneath the Surface with Curator Kirsty HartsiotisThursday 25 June at 2pm and 3pm*2pm tour...
04/06/2026

The Pot is the Woman!
Tour of Beneath the Surface with Curator Kirsty Hartsiotis
Thursday 25 June at 2pm and 3pm

*2pm tour now sold out- places available on 3pm tour*

Join us at Museum & Art Swindon for this tour of our Beneath the Surface: A Century of Studio Ceramics in Britain exhibition. Led by Kirsty Hartsiotis, one of the exhibition curators, the tour will look in more depth at some of our featured female potters, including Lucie Rie, as well as at other star female potters in the collection from Janet Leach to Alison Britton and beyond. We’ll look at what motivated these women to take up pottery as a career, their techniques and ideas, and the influences they’ve had on other potters.

Each tour lasts approximately 30 minutes, with time for questions afterwards.

Tour costs £7.00

Only 10 places available on each tour so book now!

https://www.museumartswindon.com/shop/shop-online/tickets/the-pot-is-the-woman!-curator-tour-of-beneath-the-surface-25-june-3pm/

Ken White Week at Lydiard House Museum 🖼️🎨Head over to Lydiard House Museum 20th – 28th June for a special exhibition an...
03/06/2026

Ken White Week at Lydiard House Museum 🖼️🎨

Head over to Lydiard House Museum 20th – 28th June for a special exhibition and activities celebrating the life and work of talented Swindon artist Ken White (1943–2025).

Lydiard House Museum will be open 10am – 4pm on:
• Saturday 20th June
• Sunday 21st June
• Wednesday 24th June
• Thursday 25th June
• Friday 26th June
• Saturday 27th June
• Sunday 28th June

Admission costs £6.70 for an adult and £3.65 for a child (under 3s go free). Family tickets are also available.

Find out more: https://www.lydiardpark.org.uk/event/ken-white-week-at-lydiard-house-museum/

Guided tour of Lydiard House Museum with cream tea tomorrow (3 June)!🌸If you've seen our exhibition 'How You See Me: 400...
02/06/2026

Guided tour of Lydiard House Museum with cream tea tomorrow (3 June)!🌸

If you've seen our exhibition 'How You See Me: 400 Years of Portraiture from Swindon's Museums' you'll know it features works from the collection at Lydiard House.

Why not join the team at Lydiard House tomorrow for a guided tour where you’ll discover the fascinating story of the St John family, with its colourful characters, scandals and tragedies.

Afterwards, you have the option to enjoy a delicious cream tea. Indulge in scones served with jam, Cornish clotted cream, and a pot of tea or coffee. ☕️🍰

Tickets:
Guided Tour of Lydiard House with Cream Tea: £20
Guided Tour only (Adult): £9.70
Guided Tour only (Senior): £9

Find out more and book online:
https://www.lydiardpark.org.uk/event/guided-tour-of-lydiard-house-with-cream-tea/

Don't miss your chance to see 'The Human Experience: Reflections on Swindon’s Art Collection' before it closes on 5 June...
01/06/2026

Don't miss your chance to see 'The Human Experience: Reflections on Swindon’s Art Collection' before it closes on 5 June!

What does it mean to be human? How do we experience life individually and collectively? How does art present our most complex experiences?

This exhibition explores these questions through a selection of artworks from the collection at Museum & Art Swindon. ‘The Human Experience’ was curated by volunteers from Multaka-Swindon. Multaka means Meeting Point in Arabic, it is an opportunity for people to come together to share thoughts, ideas and experiences. Personal and cultural perspectives are woven into the exhibition, but the themes explored are part of the universal human experience.

Image: ‘The Minx’, 1926, by John Collier (1850-1934)

Museum & Art Swindon is open on Euclid Street in Swindon. The Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10.30am to 4.30pm. Entry to the museum is FREE.

We are excited to reveal new acquisitions donated by in ‘Beneath the Surface: A Century of Studio Ceramics in Britain’....
30/05/2026

We are excited to reveal new acquisitions donated by in ‘Beneath the Surface: A Century of Studio Ceramics in Britain’.
Visit the exhibition to see striking work by , , .mak and . Come along and enjoy the variety and vibrancy that contemporary ceramics have to offer.

‘Beneath the Surface’ runs until 27 February 2027 at Museum & Art Swindon. With thanks to support from KennedyTing and .

Museum & Art Swindon is open on Euclid Street in Swindon. The Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10.30am to 4.30pm. Entry to the museum is FREE.

‘Pottery stands between painting and sculpture in the plastic arts, it inclines to either and includes both.’ - William ...
29/05/2026

‘Pottery stands between painting and sculpture in the plastic arts, it inclines to either and includes both.’ - William Staite Murray

In the 1920s and 30s William Staite Murray was one of the best-known potters in England. However, he defined himself as a ‘fine artist’ rather than a ‘potter’ and was a key figure in the development of British modernism. Murray is extremely important to the development of studio ceramics as an art form, so we are thrilled to introduce four Murray pieces into the collection with thanks to the Ann Zwemmer via the .

Find out more about William State Murray's Vase which is this months Item of the Month on our website.
⁠
Visit ‘Beneath the Surface: A Century of Studio Ceramics in Britain’ to see some of these stunning new acquisitions.

‘Beneath the Surface’ runs until 27 February 2027 at Museum & Art Swindon.

Museum & Art Swindon is open on Euclid Street in Swindon. The Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10.30am to 4.30pm. Entry to the museum is FREE.

These shoes were made for walking – were they?We’ve been very busy installing our new exhibition Beneath the Surface, bu...
27/05/2026

These shoes were made for walking – were they?

We’ve been very busy installing our new exhibition Beneath the Surface, but our volunteers are still working away on inventorying our costume collection.
Highlights from the last session include these zany 1970s platform shoes, a fun time in British fashion – and just right for summer!

Finding this hot weather a little too much? Why not come and visit Museum & Art Swindon- our galleries have air conditio...
26/05/2026

Finding this hot weather a little too much?
Why not come and visit Museum & Art Swindon- our galleries have air conditioning! ❄️

Take the opportunity to see our exhibition 'The Human Experience: Reflections on Swindon’s Art Collection’ before it closes on the 5 June 2026 - maybe looking at Roy Bizley’s Untitled Icelandic Landscape will help you cool down?

And don't forget we have lots of half term creative activities happening this week, so a great place to escape from the heat for all the family!

Visit our website to find out more.

Museum & Art Swindon is open on Euclid Street in Swindon. The Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10.30am to 4.30pm. Entry to the museum is FREE.

Meet the Curators Saturday 30 May⁠⁠Have you visited The Human Experience: Reflections on Swindon’s Art Collection yet? ⁠...
26/05/2026

Meet the Curators Saturday 30 May⁠
⁠
Have you visited The Human Experience: Reflections on Swindon’s Art Collection yet? ⁠
⁠
On Saturday 30 May, between 11am and 12pm, you can experience works in the exhibition using the senses, (touch, smell, sound). This activity is suitable for all ages from 3 to adult. You can meet the volunteer curators, talk to them about their experiences on the project and why they chose the art works.⁠
⁠
Join us in the Activity Space between 1pm and 2pm for crafts inspired by the exhibition, using clay and collage. No need to book, just drop in. All activities are free.⁠
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The exhibition was curated by Multaka Swindon with support from our Collections and Exhibition and Community Engagement Officers and a Live Well Project Officer. Multaka Swindon is a volunteer project that forms part of our Community Programme at Swindon Museums, an opportunity for people to come together to share thoughts, ideas and experiences across cultures and contribute to exhibitions and programming, enhancing the visitor experience.⁠
⁠
Museum & Art Swindon is open on Euclid Street in Swindon. The Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10.30am to 4.30pm. Entry to the museum is FREE.

Bag Printing Workshops Join us this tomorrow (26 May) and create your own tote bag to take home.A fun, creative hour fo...
25/05/2026

Bag Printing Workshops

Join us this tomorrow (26 May) and create your own tote bag to take home.
A fun, creative hour for kids and grown-ups alike!

🎨Workshops take place at 11am and 2pm

🎨Suitable for ages 5+

🎨£5 per person.

🎨Spots are limited so don't leave it too late!

🎨Book your place at:

https://www.museumartswindon.com/shop/shop-online/tickets/

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Civic Offices
Swindon
SN12JH

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 10:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 10:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 10:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday 10:30am - 4:30pm

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