Art transforms. It can take people away from their everyday concerns and transport them into new worlds, enriching their quality of life and inspiring them.

And experience elsewhere in Britain, such as in Folkestone, shows how bringing a vibrant community of artists into a town can also be a principal tool for regeneration.

As it looks to redeveloping its centre, I think Swindon could gain a lot from encouraging artists to come and work in the town.

Although Swindon needs a new and appropriate home for its fine existing collection, it needs more than just a trophy cabinet.

Creating an environment which encourages artists to feel they want to come and work in Swindon could bring huge benefits to the town, on the back of a surge of new creativity.

Subsidising new and exciting studio space for artists would be likely to be attractive to many creative artists. It would also be important for the town to create the right galleries for their work to be shown, ranging from the grand and dignified to less formal and intimate spaces.

And to be of most value to all the people of the town, these spaces would need to have free entrance. They could rapidly become an important social focus for Swindon where the people of the town could meet in the environment of exciting and inspirational art.

In return for the use of subsidised studio space, artists could be asked to work regularly with Swindon's schools, giving the town's young people the unique and exhilarating experience of making art with some of the country's most creative minds.

Turning Swindon into a creative centre could be further encouraged if a college of art could be set up or encouraged to move to the town.

This could become part of the University of Bath coming to Swindon or alongside it but, whatever form it took, art students always inject vitality and creative energy into a town.

Swindon has an exciting opportunity to develop in the years ahead and I hope that art will be at the heart of that process because it has a unique potential to inspire and invigorate.

Yousaywearestagnating

SWINDON is stagnating, according to the majority of Adver readers.

We asked people whether they agreed with Swindon Council leader Roderick Bluh that the town needed to kick-start its economy and stop relying so heavily on big business.

Coun Bluh has warned that global corporations could not guarantee our future and the town needed a major shake-up if its prosperity was to continue.

Of those who responded to our internet and phone poll, 83 per cent agreed the town was stagnating, while 17 per cent thought the opposite.

Swindon is embarking on what could be one of the most important times in its history.

Plans to transform the town centre are already taking shape.

The Front Garden development is on the verge of taking off, a new university for the town is in the pipeline, and the Science Museum is hoping to become a national tourist attraction.

It is all happening and it's all happening in Swindon. Do you agree with the views about the future of the town expressed here?

What do you think the priorities should be?

We want you to get involved in the debate.

If you have a vision for the town of your own, we want to hear it.

Contact the Adver newsdesk at 01793 501806 or by email at newsdesk@newswilts.co.uk