museum southampton england opened april mark centenary departure city housed listed civic centre building previously housed court police station museum contains permanent exhibitions dedicated southampton connection city role gateway world space temporary exhibitions housed purpose built pavilion extension civic centre phases development add exhibition space museum designed serving main contractor budget museum approximately came providing remainder council planned selling works municipal art collection fund museum backed encountering significant opposition outside city background plans heritage centre southampton began emerge city council formation explore options outline way forward scheme following locations potential sites named story southampton heritage centre lower high street lower high street park port southampton berth shipyard shipyard sites deemed costly following developments announced intention vacate civic centre headquarters lack space court having left building leave entire block civic centre vacant civic centre candidate host heritage centre considered runner plans unveiled civic centre heritage centre original plans included storey extension building water feature running nearby scrapped reduce cost project split phases focus phase connection attached phase budget completion date funding sought museum awarded development phase construction raise rest proposed selling works municipal art collection council selected works sold oil painting race eve woman council believed works core gallery focus british modern contemporary 20th 21st century art space constraints works collection displayed time council believed sale works allow space created new museum display works collection hoped sale generate museum proposed sale artwork backing local paper campaigned years pieces municipal collection voices dissent city spite conservative council leader assertion don sell paintings don heritage centre opposition labour camps described proposed sale betrayal public trust damage reputation city museum neighbouring described proposed sale bad idea discourage future donations city destroy national standing gallery labour politicians proposed borrowing funds alternative proposed sale ruling conservative faction dismissed plan arguing lead cuts line services increases council tax cover interest opponents formed save collection group campaign proposed art sale protested outside civic centre handed petition signatories opposing proposed sale council nonetheless council voted proceed plans september formally approached attorney general england wales approve sale criticism came stated proposed sale breach association code ethics fully explored alternate sources funding forms city held advisory responsibility joined criticism stating sale works acquired raise funds capital project spirit art fund previously provided funding acquisition red movement city expressed concern proposed sale wary set uncomfortable precedent stretching sector guidelines effectively disposal works art publicly owned collections support areas public sector cultural provision november strong opposition placed proposed art sale hold evaluate funding possibilities february council cancelled proposed art sale council stated movements property markets allowed consider selling assets previously seen sale council looked organisations provide funding partnerships neighbouring loan artworks scheme efforts fail council stated met borrowing charity formed raise funds project museum received grant media sport conjunction years operations income thousand lower expected visitor numbers thousand lower expected thousand visitor numbers continued fall subsequent years raising concerns ongoing funding long term viability construction appointed design team july naming lead year later named main contractor despite reservations appearance new pavilion english_heritage gave approval designs final planning permission granted september work began october obstacles build contractors discovered significant original building steel frame repaired adding necessary security elements cover museum exhibits listed building proved challenging features original building preserved design prison cells kept intact toilet facilities court room preserved exhibition space august contractors reached pavilion topping ceremony held pavilion designed bays negotiate irregular site sits rises metres south north stone aggregate pavilion exterior maintain consistency original civic centre building portland stone exterior described pavilion bold architectural addition signalled presence new important cultural attraction city writing described shape pavilion echoing ocean liners cutting art waves completed museum provides exhibition learning space museum opened time april marking centenary departure city forecast museum receive visitors year numbers achieved year annual totals subsequently fallen consistently work attracted positive attention industry bodies structural design work structural awards interior awards exhibits exhibitions designed permanent exhibitions housed police station court gateway world examines southampton history role hub human migration exhibits include seven metre long replica queen mary closed permanently september allow exhibits southampton story explores tragedy eyes crew majority listed southampton address preserved court room uses elements enact scenes british inquiry sinking explore civic centre clock tower approximately height funnel viewed roof light visitors enter exhibition giving impression scale ship story incorporates audio recordings given survivors features interactive elements allowing visitors steer virtual ship engines pavilion plays host temporary exhibitions coincide centenary legend explores public enduring fascination ship portrayal popular culture exhibition hosts screens playing scenes films und memorabilia collected include mourning bears puzzles internet find reviewing described comparison height civic centre height inspired praised graphics making story children adults mentioned motif following crew members story concluded conceived exhibition better place southampton remember died survived final voyage writing welcomed new building comparing favourably home described completely unsuitable telling story 20th century southampton green praised use creative restrained highlighted careful integration museum collections finished review hopeful note undeveloped spaces available civic centre building expansion concluded real shame project stage phases expansion surely good city future success
SeaCity Museum