Sarjeant Gallery applies for Government funding

August 1 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sarjeant Gallery applies for Government funding

August 1 2016

A $34 million project to redevelop Whanganui’s historic Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua has raised $10 million of private funding needed to apply for an equivalent amount of Government funds.

The $10 million had to be in place by the first week of July 2016 in order for the Sarjeant Gallery Trust to seek a funding grant from central Government’s Regional Culture and Heritage Fund.

Chairman of the Sarjeant Gallery Trust Nicola Williams says a combination of donations, pledges and bequests in the final month raised just over $5 million, taking total private funding to just over $10 million.

“Thanks to overwhelming support for the project in the last month we raised a little more than the targeted amount and have now lodged our re-application with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.”

Ms Williams says getting the application into the Ministry’s June funding round has been pivotal to the project.

“Other funding proposals and applications are dependent on getting the Government funding.

“If we had to wait until the next funding round we would have missed deadline dates for at least two major applications that are in the pipeline.”

She says if the Government funds are approved the Trust is confident of raising a further $9 million by the end of the year to complete the project fundraising.

Ms Williams says support for the Sarjeant re-development project reflects a growing commitment to make sure the historic gallery and its nationally significant art collection are preserved and developed for future generations.

Whanganui Mayor Annette Main is delighted the Sarjeant Gallery Trust has raised the $10 million and says she always believed the community of Whanganui and beyond would support the project.

“The Sarjeant Gallery is an incredibly important institution, both because of the significant collection of art it houses as well as the neo-classical building itself, which is unique for a structure of its time, and well-loved around the world.

“I want to congratulate Sarjeant Gallery Trust Chairman Nicola Williams and the other people on the Trust, as well as Sarjeant staff, supporters and of course those who contributed the funding to make this project happen.”

Developed design drawings by Warren and Mahoney Architects have been prepared and unencumbered resource consents granted. If everything goes to plan construction is due to begin in 2017, enabling the historic gallery to be reopened in time for its 100th centenary celebrations in 2019.

The proposed redevelopment includes earthquake strengthening and restoration of the gallery and development of a new purpose-built wing for exhibitions and education, as well as storage for the extensive and nationally significant art collection.

END

© Scoop Media