A fence to display art celebrating the Hawke's Bay Opera House centenary will cost $29,500, with the cost of 10 commissioned artworks yet to be finalised.
Hastings District Council plans to mount copies of 10 artworks on the fence.
Early last year the opera house and adjoining Municipal Buildings were closed after engineers identified structural issues for its seismic rating.
A decision on its future would be made in about six months after public consultation, Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule said.
With current repair estimates for the two buildings nearing $18 million, it challenges funding for the planned upgrade of two more projects, the revitalisation of Civic Square and investment in an inner-city hotel complex.