Bay artists lose display space as gallery shuts
Takaka’s Art Bank Gallery has closed its doors for the last time.
The Golden Bay Arts Council has washed its hands of the gallery after it was revealed the business had not been financially viable.
The arts council had run Art Bank since 2014. The council was based in the century-old Bank of New Zealand building on Takaka’s main street, and also hosted a gallery where local artists exhibited their work.
Council committee chair Deborah Rhodes said it was ‘‘with a great sense of relief’’ that it could finally move forward.
Rhodes stepped on board as chairperson with a new team after all eight committee members resigned en masse in June, following an overhaul of the council.
She said the early idea of having a gallery with the potential to evolve into a community arts centre hub never eventuated due to lack of planning, strategy and sound financial management.
The arts council had consulted with the community in recent months on ways to keep the business open, she said.
Ex-manager of the Art Bank, Grant Knowles, said Golden Bay had lost a very valuable asset, for both artists and for tourism.
‘‘The Art Bank was never started to make a profit. It had only ever been set up specifically as a showcase gallery for local artists.’’
He it was now a ‘‘really sad situation’’ for local artists who didn’t have anywhere to sell their work.
Since it opened in 2014, the Art Bank had sold $250,000 worth of art, Knowles said.