Friends Exhibition: Seriously
In August 2024, Linda Kasmaty sent out a request for volunteers to join a Friends’ subgroup. All with a view to staging an exhibition of items in the Swindon collection, selected by the Friends. After much discussion, the Friends got the exhibition installed in Museum and Art Swindon. It will run until September 2025.
As Chair of the Arts Council in the 1950s, Sir Kenneth Clarke said: ‘They take art seriously in Swindon’.
In this talk, we will explain how and why we chose our selection of paintings and ceramics from the Swindon Collection for the exhibition ‘Seriously…..’
Miles Franklin and Claire Parsons are members of the Friends. Linda Kasmaty is the former Chair of the Friends of Museum and Art Swindon.
©Adam Crosland/Estate of Emily Drake, Courtesy of Museum & Art Swindon
A Private View
On Friday 14th March the Friends of Museum and Art Swindon launched their exhibition with a private view.
See also Linda’s blog about Seriously.
‘When thinking of a title for the Friend’s exhibition, we felt we couldn’t improve on Sir Kenneth Clark’s comments over 50 years ago when he said ‘They take art seriously in Swindon’. We reflected on this in the Museum and Art website write up of our exhibition. I thought it was worth going a bit further into how this phrase has been used as recently as 2012 when the Public Catalogue Foundation photographed the Swindon Collection of 20th Century art. An exhibition was held then titled ‘They take Art Seriously in Swindon’ opened by the Patron of the Public Catalogue Foundation: then HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, now Queen Camilla …’
About the Friends
The Friends of Museum and Art Swindon (FMAS) is a voluntary organisation. It promotes and publicises Swindon Museum and Art Gallery and its activities to as wide a public as possible. It raises funds to buy new items for the museum and encourages sponsorship for the improvement of the collections and facilities.
We’re a registered charity – Charity No. 1050267. We launched in July 1993 with a talk by our patron, the surrealist painter and zoologist, Dr Desmond Morris.
When and where
Our talks take place in the council chamber in Swindon’s civic offices on Euclid Street. Doors open at 7pm.
£6 for members and £8 for non-members.
Date/Time
Date(s) - 24/04/2025
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
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