The Tauranga Art Gallery celebrates its seventh anniversary this week but instead of rehashing the past its sights are firmly fixed on the future.
Tauranga's first public art gallery was officially opened by former PM Helen Clark on a wet and windy Labour Weekend back in 2007.
Tauranga Art Gallery director Penelope Jackson. Photo: David Tauranga.
Director Penelope Jackson say it is a huge milestone for the gallery as it is still very much the 'new kids on the block”.
'In terms of art galleries, Auckland and Dunedin, they're over 100 years old, so they are very well established and entrenched in their community.
'This week we'll reflect on the past seven years but focus more on where we go in the next seven years.”
The gallery's latest annual report says it received 68,872 visitors in the past financial year, up by more than 8000 visits from the previous.
For the gallery the key thing is to never become complacent, 'just keep on pushing the boundaries and trying new things.”
The gallery is attracting artists of amazing standing and everything exhibited creates something just as new and as the last, she says.
'For four months we had the Black Rainbow exhibition featuring the carved Steinway piano and it drew in so many different audiences.
'To me that demonstrated that a gallery is not only a place to show art but it is a shared community space.”
The Bank of New Zealand on the corner of Warf and Willow Street in 1964. Photo: Tauranga Art Gallery.
The gallery provides 1300 square metres of floor space over two levels, with 700 square metres of exhibition space.
It is housed in the former Bank of New Zealand building and was purchased by the Tauranga Art Gallery Trust for $1.7 million in 1999.
While it has been refurbished, elements of the old building still remain including the white exterior tiles, columns and the bank vault.
While many galleries have ‘founding fathers' the Tauranga gallery has 'founding mothers”, says Penelope.
'Our mothers were Vanetta Miles, nakesake of the Miles Art Award, Ethel ‘Ray' Macmillan, Joy Owens and Jackie Bullmore. Former councillor Mary Dillon was also a champion of ours.”
Penelope's involvement with the gallery stretches back to 2003 and over the last 11 years there have been many 'light bulb moments” for her.
One of the most satisfying aspects of her job is witnessing local school groups visit the gallery.
She is constantly impressed by the openness of children to any kind of art as they hold 'no inhibitions and get completely consumed by works”.
'When kids come down in the weekend and start talking to their families about specific pieces you know they've been here for school. It's a real light bulb moment because you feel like you're making a difference.”
Another impact the gallery has on the community which Penelope is proud of is the role it plays in inspiring and educating other artists.
She has many hopes and dreams and hopes for the gallery's future, one would be the construction of an auditorium to better host events and lecture talks.
Establishing an artist-in-residence program which would commission artists to work and create for specifically for the gallery would also be wonderful, Penelope says.
'You have to have dreams, there are lots of opportunities to be had and you have to make them happen.
'I think our story is a really interesting one; one that is still happening and still growing.”
The Tauranga Art Gallery in 2007. Photo: Tauranga Art Gallery
3 comments
Economical use of attendance numbers
Posted on 26-10-2014 11:43 | By How about this view!
Please enlighten us with factual attendance numbers. Of the 68,872 visitors, how many paid an entry fee? How many were seniors? And more importantly, how many were school children attending only because it is part of their curriculum? The easy way out for our schools at the moment is to farm out the learning to outside providers and the art gallery has set themselves up with a classroom to provide art classes and materials. So are we funding the greater Bay of plenty schools through our rates as well as a white elephant gallery?
An Expensive Facility
Posted on 26-10-2014 18:00 | By Jitter
So far over the seven years it has cost ratepayers approximately 5,800,000 dollars in subsidies. The origional and only subsidy was to have been $1 million ! What a costly exercise this has been. And there is still no sign of the gallery supporting itself. How much more will ratepayers be expected to pour into this bottomless pit ?
Words are cheap
Posted on 27-10-2014 11:22 | By nerak
often referred to as rhetoric. 'new kids on the block”. Yeah, whatever, Penny will no doubt say exactly the same in another seven years. Indeed, visitor numbers need examining re entry fees, plus visitor feedback, no surprises if it was negative. 1300 square metres of floor space over two levels, with 700 square metres of exhibition space, not currently a paying proposition, and not currently envisaged to do other than bleed ratepayers for the foreseeable future. Penny's 11 years thus far have taken her many times around the country, all in the name of art of course, and I guess this will continue, and the ratepayers will continue to foot the bill for her junkets. At least she's happy, even if we are not. Time the ‘interesting story that is still happening and still growing” turned into a money making story for the city.
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