The Tauranga Art Gallery has reached out to youth with the formation of a new "Young Friends of the Gallery" group.
Launched last week the group has started with a membership of 85 senior students from local secondary schools who congregated at the gallery for the occasion. The group intends to
encourage young art lovers to extend their knowledge and appreciation of art through dedicated visits to the gallery, floortalks, discussions and visits to other galleries and artists' studios.
Many of the students are studying art at school and their involvement with the "Young Friends" group will assist them with their studies and help them gain a better understanding of the industry with a view towards careers in the arts.
Gallery director Penelope Jackson says one of the hardest jobs is getting people to make their first visit to the facility. Because it is only two-and-half years old many students had not visited the gallery when younger.
"Now we have about 8000 students a year coming through," she told the gathering. "Visiting a gallery should be a normal activity and this is a good starting point for when you go on your overseas travels and get to visit galleries and museums all over the world."
"Over the next decade you will make the most important decisions about your lives regarding education, careers and partners. But make a few minor decisions too - like being culturally savvy."
The "Young Friends" group is the brainchild of education and visitor programmes manager Grant Thompson whose aim is to encourage young people to have an active involvement in the arts.
