Art Gallery - re-opening, and long term future ahead
Thanks for your interest in saving the public Art Gallery in Palmerston North.
I’m delighted to confirm that:
- The Art Gallery will open again to the public on Saturday 29 September.
- A re-opening celebration is being held in the Art Gallery at 6 pm on Thursday 27 September – feel welcome to come if you can.
The early re-opening of the Art Gallery has provided staff with the perfect excuse to bring out from storage a number and variety of works from the permanent collection. This is something members of our local arts community have, for many years, been asking to have happen. The staff deserve thanks for their hours of hard work and dedication in developing new and engaging ways in which to exhibit both much loved and lesser known works. I hope you have opportunity to visit the Art Gallery soon, to appreciate all they have done.
But we’re not out of the woods yet.
The Art Gallery continues to be run by the same management, and the future of the building remains uncertain (Council has confirmed that every option, including demolition of the Art Gallery building, is on the table).
Accordingly, it remains important for interested members of the public to keep up to date with what is proposed and, if possible, to participate in Council’s upcoming consultation processes.
Two opportunities for public feedback are currently in the pipeline:
- Future of the Art Gallery building: Public consultation is scheduled to take place before the end of this year on the proposed redevelopment of Palmerston North’s cultural precinct. The future of the Art Gallery building (including whether or not it will be retained as part of the redevelopment) remains a key element within this wider scoping exercise.
- Management of the Art Gallery: Council is also proposing to commence a section 17A review (ie; a formal governance review under the Local Government Act) of its cultural Council Controlled Organisations. This review will include the Art Gallery, which is currently managed by Te Manawa Museums Trust.
I will keep you posted once Council releases further details on the ways in which the public can express their views as part of these consultation and review processes.
Meantime, I’m happy to respond to any questions, so feel welcome to contact me by email at art@zimmerman.co.nz, or via the contact page on my website: http://www.zimmerman.co.nz/contact
Thanks again for the part you've already played in our desire to Save the Art Gallery in Palmerston North - your support makes a difference.
Warm regards,
Bronwyn Zimmerman