SeaCity Museum

Coordinates: 50°54′29″N 1°24′28″W / 50.908021°N 1.407664°W / 50.908021; -1.407664
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SeaCity Museum
original building)
Main contractorKier Southern
Website
seacitymuseum.co.uk

The SeaCity Museum is a museum in

civic centre building which previously housed the magistrates' court and police station. The museum contains two permanent exhibitions, one dedicated to Southampton's connection with RMS Titanic, and the other to the city's role as gateway to the world. A third space for temporary exhibitions is housed in a purpose-built pavilion extension to the civic centre. Further phases of development may yet add to the exhibition space.[1]

The museum was designed by

Heritage Lottery Fund, with Southampton City Council and Southampton Cultural Development Trust providing the remainder.[1] The council had planned on selling works from their municipal art collection to fund the museum, but backed down after encountering significant opposition from both within and outside the city.[2]

Background

Plans for a heritage centre in Southampton began to emerge in 2002, with the city council's formation of the Heritage Working Group to explore options and to outline the way forward for such a scheme.[3] In 2004, the following locations were shortlisted as potential sites for the then named "Story of Southampton" heritage centre[4]

All of the shortlisted sites were deemed too costly and unworkable. Following these developments, in 2006

Southampton Police announced their intention to vacate their civic centre headquarters due to a lack of space.[5] With the magistrates' court having left the building in 2001, this would leave an entire block of the civic centre vacant. And so the civic centre became a candidate to host the heritage centre, and by 2007 was considered the front runner.[6][7]

Plans were unveiled for the civic centre heritage centre in 2008. The original plans included a 3-storey extension to the building, and a water feature running from nearby Watts Park, both of which were scrapped to reduce the cost by £10M to £28M. [8][9] The project was split into two phases. The focus of phase one was to be Southampton's Titanic connection, and the Sea City name was attached. Phase one had a budget of £15M and a completion date due in 2012.[10]

Funding

Southampton City Council sought

Heritage Lottery Funding towards the museum; it was awarded £0.5M in 2009 for the development phase, and a further £4.6M in 2010 for the construction.[10][11][12]

To raise the rest of the £15M, in 2009, Southampton City Council proposed selling off works from their municipal art collection. The council selected two works to be sold, an oil painting by Alfred Munnings, After the Race (1937),[a] and one of two bronzes by Auguste Rodin, either Eve (1880)[b] or Crouching Woman (1882).[c] The council believed that these works were not core to the gallery's focus on British modern and contemporary 20th and 21st century art. Due to space constraints at Southampton City Art Gallery, only 200 of the 3,500 works in the collection can ever be displayed there at one time; the council believed that the sale of the two works would allow space to be created in the new museum for the display of 100 further works from the collection. It was hoped that the sale would generate £5M towards the museum.[13]

The proposed sale of the artwork had backing from the local paper, the Daily Echo, which had campaigned for three years for the deaccessioning of pieces from the "overflowing" municipal collection.[13] There were voices of dissent from within the city however, in spite of Alec Samuels, the then Conservative council leader's assertion that, "If we don't sell some paintings we don't get a heritage centre." Councillors from opposition Liberal Democrat and Labour camps described the proposed sale as a "betrayal of public trust" which would damage the reputation of the city's museum.[14] Alan Whitehead, MP for neighbouring Southampton Test described the proposed sale as an "outstandingly bad idea", which would discourage future donations and bequests to the city and destroy the national standing of its gallery.[15] Labour politicians proposed borrowing funds as an alternative to the proposed sale, but the ruling Conservative faction dismissed this plan, arguing that it would lead to either cuts in front-line services, or increases in council tax, to cover interest and repayments.[16]

Opponents formed the "Save our Collection" group to campaign against the proposed art sale; they protested outside the civic centre and handed a petition with over 2,500 signatories opposing the proposed sale to the council and

The Art Fund, which had previously provided funding towards the acquisition of Bridget Riley's Red Movement (2005)[d] by the city, expressed concern at the proposed sale, wary that it would "set an uncomfortable precedent, stretching the sector's guidelines and effectively sanctioning the disposal of works of art from publicly-owned collections to support other areas of public sector cultural provision".[22]

In November 2009, due to the strong opposition, Southampton City Council placed the proposed art sale on hold to re-evaluate their funding possibilities.[23] By February 2010, the council had cancelled the proposed art sale. The council stated that movements in the property markets had allowed it to consider selling off assets that were previously seen as unviable for sale. The council also looked to other organisations to provide funding, such as partnerships with neighbouring Hampshire County Council through a loan of artworks scheme. And if these efforts were to fail, the council stated that any shortfall would be met through borrowing.[2][24]

A charity, the Southampton Cultural Development Trust[e] was formed in 2010 to raise funds towards the project.[25] The museum further received a grant from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in conjunction with the Wolfson Foundation, and another from the Garfield Weston Foundation.[26][27]

Over its first two years of operations income was £468 thousand (23%) lower than expected.[28] Visitor numbers were 10 thousand lower than expected at 240 thousand.[28] Visitor numbers have continued to fall in subsequent years raising concerns over ongoing funding and long term viability.[29]

Construction

The pavilion consists of three interlocking bays

Southampton City Council appointed the design team in July 2009, naming

prison cells were kept intact and used as toilet facilities, and a court room was preserved as an exhibition space.[32]

By August 2011, contractors had reached the top of the pavilion, and a

RMS Titanic's departure from the city. Southampton City Council forecast that the museum would receive over 150,000 visitors per year, but these numbers were only achieved in the first year, and annual totals have subsequently fallen consistently.[29][32][34][35]

Work on the SeaCity Museum attracted positive attention from industry bodies. The Institution of Structural Engineers shortlisted Ramboll's structural design work for their 2012 Structural Awards; Architects' Journal shortlisted Wilkinson Eyre and interior fitters 8build for their 2012 Retrofit Awards.[36][37][38]

Exhibits

The main Gateway to the World gallery

There are three exhibitions at SeaCity, all of which were designed by Urban Salon. Two permanent exhibitions are housed in the former police station and magistrates' court.

The pavilion plays host to temporary exhibitions. The first, to coincide with the Titanic centenary, is Titanic: The Legend which explores the public's enduring fascination with the ship through its portrayal in

Steiff "mourning bears", beers from the Titanic Brewery, jigsaw puzzles and many other such kitsch that SeaCity scoured the internet to find.[46][47]

Catherine Roberts, reviewing Southampton's Titanic Story for Culture24 described the comparison between the height of the civic centre and the height of the Titanic as inspired. She praised the graphics for making the story digestible for children and adults. And while she mentioned that the motif of following several crew members through the story never quite pans out, she concluded that it was a well-conceived exhibition and that "there can be no better place than Southampton to remember both those who died and those who survived the Titanic's first and final voyage."[45]

Oliver Green, writing in

Pevsner Architectural Guide to Hampshire:South described it as "notably short of objects or artworks".[48]

Notes

  1. ^ "View art work: After the Race". Southampton City Art Gallery. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  2. ^ "View art work: Eve". Southampton City Art Gallery. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  3. ^ "View art work: Crouching Woman". Southampton City Art Gallery. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  4. ^ "View art work: Red Movement". Southampton City Art Gallery. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  5. ^ "Southampton Cultural Development Trust official website". Retrieved 15 August 2012.

References

  1. ^ a b c Steve Menary (January 2012). "The Icebergs are all in the Past". Building Projects. netMAGmedia: 43–47. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  2. ^ a b Matt Smith (18 February 2010). "Southampton City Council back track on art sell off plans for museum funds". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  3. ^ "First Steps to 'Story of Southampton' Centre" (Press release). Southampton City Council. 8 July 2002. Archived from the original on 4 November 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  4. ^ "'Story of Southampton' a Step Closer" (Press release). Southampton City Council. 24 May 2004. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Item No. 19 – Proposed New Heritage Centre" (PDF). Meeting of Economic Development, Leaders and Leisure Scrutiny Panel. Southampton City Council. 25 March 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  6. ^ David Newble (21 February 2006). "Heritage centre plan for old magistrates court". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  7. ^ Matt Smith (17 February 2007). "Could a deal at last be on the cards for a city arts complex?". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  8. ^ Peter Law (28 January 2008). "Civic centre plans unveiled". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  9. ^ Peter Law (25 July 2008). "Titanic vision for £30m Museum". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Titanic Sea City Museum plans gather steam" (Press release). Southampton City Council. 31 March 2009. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  11. ^ Peter Law (5 April 2009). "Sea City Museum could help put Southampton on the map". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  12. Heritage Lottery Fund
    . 29 March 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  13. ^ a b Peter Law (30 July 2009). "Works by Rodin and Munnings could raise £5m". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  14. ^ Matt Smith (18 July 2009). "'Sell Art or no Titanic Museum' says Council Leader". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  15. ^ Alan Whitehead (10 August 2009). "Don't sell Southampton short!". Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  16. ^ Matt Smith (28 September 2009). "Borrow cash but don't sell our city's art". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  17. ^ Edward Chaney,‘Titanic Error Threatens to Sink City Art Gallery’, Friends of Southampton’s Museums, Archives and Galleries Newsletter, 65 (Autumn, 2009)
  18. ^ ‘That Sinking Feeling’, The Jackdaw, November/December 2009, pp. 12-14
  19. ^ Peter Law (16 September 2009). "Plans to sell off art are voted through". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  20. ^ Patrick Steel (23 September 2009). "Southampton sale does not meet MA's code of ethics". Museums Association. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  21. ^ Martin Wainwright (27 September 2009). "Southampton council warned over plan to sell £5m worth of art works to fund gallery complex". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  22. ^ "Bridget Riley signs petition to stop sell-off of Southampton's art collection". Southern Daily Echo. 2 September 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  23. ^ "Southampton Council bows to pressure from Museums Association". Southern Daily Echo. 7 November 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  24. ^ Felicity Heywood (26 February 2010). "Southampton does U-turn on art sale". Museums Journal. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  25. ^ Peter Law (18 December 2009). "Southampton's Titanic Story plans unveiled". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  26. ^ "Southampton's SeaCity Museum successfully bids for £200,000 funding". Southern Daily Echo. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  27. ^ "Garfield Weston Foundation awards £200,000 in support of SeaCity Museum". Southampton Cultural Development Trust. June 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  28. ^ a b "Southampton's SeaCity Museum fails to meet targets". BBC News. BBC. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  29. ^ a b "Southampton's SeaCity Museum: Visitors almost halve". BBC News. BBC. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  30. ^ Peter Law (17 March 2010). "English Heritage back Sea City Museum plans". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  31. ^ Matt Smith (29 September 2010). "Work starts next week on Southampton's Sea City museum". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  32. ^
    Wilkinson Eyre
    . 10 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  33. ^ "Sea City museum reaches highest point" (Press release). Kier Group. 11 August 2011. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  34. ^
    ISSN 0027-416X
    .
  35. ^ Matt Smith (26 April 2012). "10,000 visit Southampton's SeaCity Museum in less than two weeks". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  36. ^ "Structural Awards 2012: Sea City Museum". Structural Awards. Institution of Structural Engineers. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  37. ^ Patrick Knox (16 August 2012). "SeaCity Museum up for Structural Award". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  38. ^ Richard White (3 July 2012). "AJ exclusive: finalists for Retrofit Awards". Architects' Journal. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  39. Heart South Coast
    . 27 February 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  40. ^ "Southampton ready for Titanic SeaCity Museum". Culture24. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  41. ^ "Southampton's Maritime Museum to close doors". Southern Daily Echo. 24 September 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  42. ^ Matt Smith (12 June 2011). "God's House Tower lease up for sale". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  43. ^ "God's House Tower: A History of the Museum". Southampton City Council. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  44. ^ Clive Couldwell (7 June 2012). "Reliving Titanic". AV. Metropolis International. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  45. ^ a b Catherine Roberts (18 April 2012). "SeaCity Museum brings Titanic story home to Southampton". Culture24. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  46. ^ a b Jon Reeve (27 March 2012). "First look inside Southampton's £15m SeaCity Museum and Titanic exhibition". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  47. ^ Raphael Satter (3 April 2012). "Titanomania: Museum charts obsession with Titanic". Associated Press. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  48. .

External links