By ROSALEEN MACBRAYNE
TAURANGA - A gift of $1 million moves the planned Tauranga regional art gallery a step closer to fruition.
The donation from the Bay of Plenty Community Trust will go towards the operating costs of the gallery for its first three years, ensuring it will not have to draw on its endowment income.
No date has been set for the opening, which is likely to be at least a year away.
Almost 12 months ago, the Civic Art Gallery Trust bought the 997 sq m Bank of New Zealand building on the corner of Wharf and Willow Sts, close to the Tauranga District Council offices and not far from the city's Baycourt Theatre.
Obtaining premises for a provincial gallery was the culmination of six years' work by a steering committee.
The district council committed $1 million and a substantial amount came from two local estates.
The building cost $1.7 million. That and the $1.3 million earmarked for redecoration are covered by money already in hand.
Fundraising will continue until late this year to gather another $5 million for an endowment fund to provide for the long-term financial security of the gallery.
The chairman of the gallery trust, John Gray, said the board would make decisions on refurbishment, employment of a chief executive and the opening date once the outcome of the fundraising campaign was known.
It was important to make certain that, once the doors were open, they would remain so.
Mr Gray said the contribution from the community trust, which was endowed by the old TrustBank Bay of Plenty, had delighted all those involved in the project and would give added impetus to the achievement of a widely valued art gallery for Tauranga.
"It also represents another significant milestone in achieving a cultural heart and the coming of age of the city."
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