1. A New Museum & Gallery for Southend Presentation to Cultural Advisory Group Thursday 15 th January 2009

2. Public consultation mid-August – 14 th November 2008 10,000 leaflets/questionnaires: - delivered to organisations & groups, e.g. art, history, religious, ethnic, disabled, business; - at key outlets, e.g. Libraries, Museums, Civic Centre, VIC, College; - door-dropped close to proposed location, e.g.Prittlewell Square, Clifton Terrace, Clifftown Parade; - emailed to Schools, Southend Together, Youth Council, etc. - distributed at exhibition road show Focus Groups

3. Exhibition Road Show August to October 13 venues Borough-wide (Beecroft, Central Museum, Priory Museum, Central Library, Leigh Library, Civic Centre, Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre, Visitor Information Centre, Victoria Shopping Centre, Thorpedene Library, Royals Shopping Centre, Southend Victoria Rail station, Cliffs Pavilion)

4. On-line www.southend.gov.uk - Information pages; - On-line consultation formwww.southend.gov.uk Links from: - www.culturebox.co.uk - www.southendmuseums.co.uk - www.beecroft-art-gallery.co.ukwww.culturebox.co.ukwww.southendmuseums.co.ukwww.beecroft-art-gallery.co.uk

5. Key points Problems with Central Museum and Beecroft currently; Background on The Prittlewell Prince; Why Cliffs is the best location; Proposals and key benefits of a new purpose-built museum and gallery; Frequently asked questions Questionnaire with tear-off Freepost response card

6. 4 questions Do you support the idea of merging Southend Central Museum’s and the Beecroft Art Gallery’s collections in a new building which will also incorporate the Prittlewell Prince artefacts? Do you agree that the location of the new museum should be in a seafront position within the Cliffs Gardens? Do you have a suggestion for a name for the new Museum & Gallery? Should the Bandstand be returned to the Cliffs as part of the re-development?

7. Early indicators (forms are still in the process of being analysed) 12% response rate from questionnaires 88% support merging Central Museum’s and Beecroft’s collections in a new building with Prittlewell Prince artefacts 65% in favour of seafront location in Cliffs Gardens c.600 name suggestions for new museum & gallery

8. Focus Groups October 2008 6 groups of 8 people 2 hour discussions - external facilitator Art, science & historic special interest groups Professional Stakeholders (inc RSL, Metal, SB&TP, TGSEP, ECC, SSIBA, MLA, Essex Tourism) Residents (from Citizens’ Panel, Milton Ward, disability groups & others) 2 x Museum & Gallery staff & volunteers Councillors (representing Cultural Advisory Group)

9. 6 key discussion topics 1)Good things about existing museum buildings & what could be improved 2)Benefits/downsides of merging collections 3)Visitors – current and future 4)Positive/negatives about proposed seafront location within Cliffs Gardens 5)Design/Architecture – inc. gardens, access, environment 6)Importance of having Prittlewell artefacts on permanent display in Southend

10. Summary of views 1) on existing service Agreed collections are valuable but poorly housed in current buildings Agreed neither building provides suitable disabled access Combining collections could create more complex and interesting exhibitions Museums & gallery staff are expert, committed and enthusiastic and have much of value to offer a new project Agreed Beecroft building should be sold with proceeds towards new museum & gallery Agreed Central Museum building not fit for purpose, however, great concern that it is safe-guarded. This was one of the most strongly and collectively held views of the consultation.

11. Summary of views 2) on merging collections with Prittlewell finds General agreement, but need for distinct, separate areas for museum and art gallery collections. Benefits of new building include: better displays, improved care of collections, improved access and visitor service, sustainability and good for Southend, both socially and culturally. Some concern expressed about long-term Council commitment to, and funding for, a new museum/gallery.

12. Summary of views 3) on proposed seafront location Location was the most debated issue. The majority of participants were positive. Some concern that Cliffs site was chosen as way to deal with slippage problem and not necessarily the best site for museum/ gallery. Many participants suggested there should be a new bus route to the seafront

13. Summary of views 3) on proposed seafront location Key reasons why proposed location is seen as ideal: it will maximise iconic value of building, which will in turn generate greater civic pride it’s well-placed to tell the Thames estuary story; it’s well-placed to attract new visitors it will maximise the investment it could trigger development of better transport connections it was recommended in the feasibility study for the new museum

14. Summary of views 3) on proposed seafront location Key reasons against a seafront location: issues of a) slippage and b) a new building should be kept separate threatens the estuary view if not sympathetically designed large building will take away green, open space poor public transport connections so a) less accessible and b) will lead to increased car congestion

15. Summary of views 4) on visitors Agreed that a new museum would grow visitor numbers and majority agreed that this would be a positive thing. The visitor groups that would benefit: - local community - educational community - disabled - national and international tourists - cultural visitors - museum professionals - special interest groups, e.g. art, natural science, history

16. Summary of views 5) on Design/Architecture Majority enthusiastic. Want something iconic, stunning, cutting-edge, forward-thinking, striking, modern and magical – but low profile Agreed main entrance at seafront. Possible additional entrance at the top Garden should be designed at same time as the building A building at cutting-edge of environmental sustainability is a fantastic opportunity for Southend Confidence that the law, combined with good architectural practice, will ensure access for all - back-of- house as well as public areas.

17. Summary of views 6) on Prittlewell Prince in Southend Unanimous view that Prittlewell Prince artefacts must be returned to Southend - for civic pride - for potential to “own” Saxon history - for Christian significance - for tourism & economic potential Majority agreed Prittlewell finds should be housed within a new museum/gallery at the seafront – but some feel strongly they should return to near where they were excavated.

18. Next stage Capital funding in place for design & planning permission stage Contract advertised in Architects Journal and OJEU 63 Pre-qualification questionnaires received 8 shortlisted to tender stage - documents issued 12th Jan 09 Tenders due back 23rd Feb 09 – interviews to take place w/c 9th Feb 09 (3 members of the Cultural Advisory Group will be offered the opportunity to participate in the selection process) Selection and award of contract by 17th Mar 09