Repair wait slows visits to art gallery
A near 10 per cent drop in visitor numbers at the Aigantighe Art Gallery does not concern its curator.
The gallery presented its annual report to Timaru District councillors last week, revealing that it recorded 17,158 visitors for 2018, compared to 19,025 in 2017 – a 9.8 per cent drop.
However, curator Hamish Pettengell was not concerned.
‘‘The visitor numbers have reduced for two reasons. Firstly, due to the temporary closure of the House Gallery and secondly, because we started a new method to capture visitor numbers two years ago, which has provided greater accuracy of visitor numbers.
‘‘We have no concerns about the decrease in the visitor numbers – the gallery continues to be strongly supported by the community and its visitors.’’
The House Gallery was closed in March, 2017, due ‘‘to an adverse earthquake rating’’.
Pettengell said it was hoped that the work on the House Gallery, budgeted at more than $600,000, would begin soon.
‘‘We are fully aware of the importance of this iconic heritage building to the community and we are committed to reopening the House Gallery as soon as feasibly possible. Currently the gallery is working through the design options to seismically strengthen the House and once this has been completed the gallery will have a better understanding of when it will likely reopen.’’
The annual report stated:
‘‘The gallery will endeavour to reopen this important and iconic building in 2019.’’
The gallery meanwhile had a record 20 exhibitions during the last year.
‘‘We see the increase in exhibitions as part of business as usual and with the temporary closure of the House Gallery we want to ensure visitors enjoy a wide range of exhibitions.
‘‘We have also made a number of changes in the gallery [such as relocating the front desk, relining the gallery walls and relocating office furniture] to maximise available gallery space while the House Gallery is closed and have created more opportunities to showcase the gallery’s amazing collection and hold more exhibitions.’’
The gallery was also keen to extend its educational programmes, he said.
‘‘The gallery will endeavour to reopen this important and iconic building in 2019.’’
Annual report