Tauranga Art Gallery is attracting thousands more visitors than previous years and its gallery director says figures are even better than they show.

Penelope Jackson presented the latest update on Tauranga Art Gallery to the city council this week reporting total visitors to the gallery are up by 6389 the last six months of 2013, compared to the same period in 2012.

The Tauranga Art Gallery was packed with fans during an All Blacks visit in October.

There were 37,129 visitors for the six months to December 2013, compared with 30,740 for the same 2012 six month period.

The financial statements for the six months show the gallery income is $58,148 ahead of budget for the six months – but it is $182,508 behind the December 2012 six month figure.

The six monthly figure shows an operational surplus of $26,745, which includes a generous donation of significant artworks. It's ahead of the budgeted deficit of $1655, but well behind last December's $250,127.

Gallery activity doesn't always fit comfortably into six monthly periods, and the gallery is already expecting significant income in the next six months, both from its popular exhibition and event programme, as well as from touring exhibitions, says Penelope.

More than $30,000 is expected to come in from touring exhibitions over this period with most of the upfront expenditure related to this already paid.

Two of the Tauranga gallery exhibitions are on the road, providing income from other art galleries.

Penelope Jackson with Dame Lynley Dodd attended the opening at the Nelson Provincial Museum, and Rockhampton Art Gallery.

Penelope also attended the opening, gave staff training and signed books at Corrugations, The Art of Jeff Thomson at the Waikato Museum.

The gallery's looking forward to achieving the budgeted break even for the year, says Penelope.

'We've been very busy. Takings from donations is up $7000, venue hire is also up with lot of community activities and events charges.”

Experience is why the gallery doesn't charge for exhibitions, says Penelope, in answer to a councillor's questions. When the gallery put a $5 charge on entry on the Rita Angus exhibition in 2012, numbers dropped by a third.

'We would not charge people to access art in the community,” says Penelope.

There are two main groups of gallery visitors with about 20 per cent in the 16-25 year category, and about 35 per cent are aged 66-plus.

A total of 79 per cent are female, but the gallery attracted a high number of female visitors in particular to the Rosemary McLeod vintage needlework exhibition, With Bold Needle and Thread.