The opening of Tauranga's public art gallery this weekend will see celebrations pouring out on the street. After nearly a decade of fundraising and planning, the doors to the $7.5 million gallery will open to the public this Saturday from 10am.
With only 300 people allowed in the art gallery at
a time due to fire safety regulations, the festivities would be held on Wharf St, with a stage set up for local musicians and entertainers to perform on _ including the Tauranga Civic Choir and the Tauranga City Silver Band.
Tauranga Art Gallery director Richard Arlidge said he was not sure how many people to expect as it would be Labour weekend.
"There could be a cast of thousands _ the whole world has been invited," he said.
Wharf St celebrations would run from 10.30am through till midday and Prime Minister Helen Clark will attend the event.
In June, the Government granted $650,000 towards the gallery, as part of its significant community-based projects fund.
The gallery's first visitors will be greeted by six exhibitions on Saturday _ including 150 of the top media photographs in the 2007 World Press Photo Exhibition.
Mount Maunganui artist Mark Braunias would also be exhibiting his work, Visual Bank, as would local intermediate children in the Tauranga Arts Festival and TrustPower photographic competition.
Mr Arlidge said the gallery would always present a wide range of exhibitions, including historical and contemporary.
"It will be a visual symphony, a journey, a visual exploration of ideas."
The gallery will open daily at 10am and close at 4.30pm. Entry is free but a gold coin donation is encouraged.
