Costume designer loses fight for kiosk
Costume designer Jenny Gillies has lost her fight to remain at Christchurch’s Botanic Gardens tea kiosk.
However, the Christchurch City Council is looking at whether her Enchanted Garden exhibition can be accommodated elsewhere. It is considering offering her a temporary lease for the old information centre, just metres away from the tea kiosk. That decision would be made by the council on December 19, once the councillors had considered a report from staff on the issue.
The Canterbury Horticultural Society takes over the tea kiosk lease early next year. It plans to use the building for several activities including training, floral design, displays, plant sales, office space, and meetings.
The society also plans to partner with like-minded groups, including the Friends of the Botanic Gardens.
Councillors wanted to find a solution to accommodate both entities and asked if the council could offer Gillies a two-year lease at the former information centre, which was earmarked as a new science hub.
Acting head of parks Kate Russell said two years was a long time when talking to research partners about putting in displays and exhibitions in the old information centre. She said staff could live with not having the space for 12 months, but two years was too long.
Gillies said she was still pushing for a permanent lease at the gardens and a one-year lease was not long enough. ‘‘I’m disappointed this could not have been resolved ages ago.’’
She said she has been pushing for a permanent lease for three years. She launched the exhibition, featuring up to 50 floral costumes at the refurbished tea kiosk in December 2016 and charges for public entry. Originally designed as a six-month exhibition, her temporary lease has been extended three times.
Cr Yani Johanson said it was a ‘‘real shame’’ it had come down to this and he wanted to find a solution to ensure both could operate from the gardens.
Cr Deon Swiggs said he did not want the city to lose Gillies’ exhibition and Cr Anne Galloway said she did not want Gillies to think the council did not value what she has done for the city.