Free entry sees 6000 more through MTG over school holidays

Free entry to the Museum Theatre Gallery meant school holiday visitor numbers rocketed from 1594 to 7150. Photo / File

Visitor numbers have soared since entry to the Museum Theatre Gallery (MTG) Hawke's Bay became free last month.

The Marine Parade facility's entry fee was removed after the Napier City Council decided to temporarily relocate the Napier City Library to the rear of MTG.

It became free just in time for the October school holidays, with 7150 people enjoying the facility during the two weeks. In the July school holidays, it had just 1594 visitors.

While the holidays are over, MTG director Laura Vodanovich said she was "delighted" the number of visitors was still higher - including 400 people through the facility on Labour Day alone.

"It will allow this place to be what it should be in the community and that's really exciting."

Removing the entry fee meant the demographics of their visitors had changed.

"It's made it accessible to people that it was maybe out of reach of a bit more. Certainly the number of families coming in over the holidays was a big change".

Previously, the entry fee was thought to have deterred some people from visiting the museum.

As well as sharing the MTG's collections, and exhibitions with more people, Ms Vodanovich said she felt museums and galleries had a role as a cultural hub.

"I really do hope that the community come to see this as their place, and more so having that sense of connection to your past and history and even your present... is actually something that's actually really helpful for communities having a sense of themselves, and individuals having a sense of self and place.

"It does really good things for people and is hopefully a positive influence."

The relocation of the library into the MTG is expected to happen over the summer, when the current Napier library closes for a slightly longer Christmas period than usual, before the temporary library opens some time in January.

- MTG Hawke's Bay is open 10am to 5pm Monday to Sunday, every day of the year except Christmas.