In February 2022, Swindon Museum and Art Gallery ran Creative Curation Workshops with around 50 art students from New College Swindon. This was facilitated through the museum’s outreach programme, Art on Tour.


The students selected from a longlist of modern and contemporary artworks from Swindon's collection. Three of the most popular artworks are on display at the college throughout September.


In addition to the physical displays, this curation presents all the artworks explored by the students during the workshops. Students are invited to write interpretation for the artworks, which will be published throughout the academic year as part of the curation.

10 artworks




  • Totemakia I







  • Landscape 1940
    George Downs (1901–1983)
    Oil on canvas
    H 70 x W 96.3 cm
    Swindon Museum and Art Gallery

  • Composition
    Mary Kessell (1914–1977)
    Oil, wax & graphite on canvas
    H 29 x W 42.5 cm
    Swindon Museum and Art Gallery

  • Picos de Europa, Asturias 1935
    David Bomberg (1890–1957)
    Charcoal on paper
    H 47 x W 62.2 cm
    Swindon Museum and Art Gallery

  • The Battle of Lapiths and Centaurs 1980
    Stephen McKenna (1939–2017)
    Oil on canvas
    H 59 x W 78 cm
    Swindon Museum and Art Gallery

  • Sounds and Silences

    Sounds and Silences
    Jack Smith (1928–2011)
    Oil on canvas
    H 104.8 x W 104.8 cm
    Swindon Museum and Art Gallery