Swansea Museum Shortlisted for National Competition

SWANSEA, Wales - Jan. 13, 2014 - PRLog -- ONE of the UK’s leading artists could soon be on the way to Swansea to help stage a series of major cultural activities.

Swansea Museum has been shortlisted to host Amy Sharrocks as part of the Museums at Night festival being organised by Culture24.

Museums at Night is an annual weekend of late openings and special events taking place in museums, galleries, libraries, archive and heritage sites all over the UK. It takes place this year from Thursday May 15 to Saturday May 17.

Amy could be on the way to Swansea Museum if the attraction beats off competition from museums in Preston, Kidderminster and Oldham in a public vote that lasts from January 14 to January 28.

Amy is a live artist, sculptor and film-maker. In 2007, she oversaw a project called Swim where 50 people swam across London via 15 lakes, lidos and pools.

Cllr Nick Bradley, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “It’s really encouraging that Swansea Museum is among a small handful of Welsh venues to have been shortlisted for the Museums at Night festival. The museum has a proud tradition of hosting top-quality exhibitions and events and winning this public vote would raise the museum’s profile and lead to a memorable weekend of cultural activities.

“We chose Amy because we were drawn to her connection with water. Swansea’s entire history has been influenced by its closeness to water through industry, trade, migration and tourism, and Swansea Museum’s collection reflects this connection.

“We’re proud of our reputation as a leading city of culture and beating off competition from the other shortlisted museums would help re-enforce that status.”

The Olga, a working Bristol Channel pilot cutter that would’ve guided ships safely into dock, and the Helwick lightship, a beacon of safe passage for sailors, are among the vessels in Swansea Museum’s collection. If Swansea Museum wins the public vote, these vessels could help explore the theme of water and rescue as part of the Museums at Night weekend.