Gallery friends call for new supporters
A group supporting New Plymouth’s Govett-Brewster Gallery is appealing for more members to help fund new projects.
Friends of Govett-Brewster Art Gallery president Sue Kelly said membership had fallen since the gallery reopened in 2015 after it was earthquake-proofed in conjunction with construction of the Len Lye Centre.
At its recent annual meeting in New Plymouth the group decided to focus on growing membership numbers, she said. ‘‘We had several hundred members before the gallery was temporarily closed; now the number is half that.’’
Increased membership showed community support for the art gallery and also helped to support community projects, Kelly said.
‘‘Recently, we made a $1000 donation to the Taranaki Arts Trail, and we support local organisations such as helping children to visit the gallery. This means the gallery gets more exposure from people living in Taranaki and visitors from outside the region.’’
Kelly said both the art gallery and Len Lye Centre art museum complement each other. ‘‘People deliberately visit New Plymouth to see the Len Lye Centre, which helped to promote the art gallery nationally and internationally.’’
The impact on visitors would not be as effective if the LLC was located in another part of the city, she said. ‘‘You can’t have one without the other.’’
Kelly said the group had opposed an admission fee to both galleries, and hoped there would be changes.
‘‘The admission fee has created a problem that some people who live in New Plymouth still think they need to pay. The message has to get out there that there is no admission price for New Plymouth district residents.’’