$75m redevelopment would close art gallery for two years

By BERNARD ORSMAN

The Auckland Art Gallery is planning a huge $75 million redevelopment project to strengthen its iconic architecture from earthquakes and increase exhibition space.

If approved by the Auckland City Council, the gallery would close for two years and temporarily relocate across Kitchener St to the New Gallery.

The New Gallery - founded by arts patrons Jenny and Alan Gibbs in 1995 to showcase modern New Zealand art - is managed by the Auckland Art Gallery.

Gallery director Chris Saines said the need to strengthen and restore the original 1887 French-style colonial building and subsequent additions was a chance to address the challenges of the 21st century.

The Auckland Art Gallery is New Zealand's leading public art gallery, attracting more than 200,000 visitors each year. But with six buildings, 17 different floor levels and a history of piecemeal development, it fails to meet international museum standards - costing it major exhibitions.

The redevelopment plan involves increasing exhibition space by 50 per cent to show more of the gallery's 12,500-piece visual arts collection and improving behind-the-scenes facilities.

The last facelift was in 1971 when the modernist Edmiston Wing was added to the colonial building - opened in 1887 as the city's public library and municipal offices.

The $75 million proposal is the preferred option of five Mr Saines and council officers prepared for the city councillors to consider in this year's budget.

There are three other options costing $10 million, $32 million and $127 million and a fifth "do nothing" option.

The two cheaper options involve strengthening, heritage and asbestos removal work.

Options three and four involve greater exhibition space.

Under option three, the council would contribute $20 million and the gallery would raise the other $55 million from sources including the ASB Trusts, Lottery Grants Board and a regional museums fund.

The gallery has had exceptional levels of support from art patrons and art trusts throughout its history.

The project is bigger than the $53 million stage two redevelopment now under way at Auckland Museum, the first stage of which was completed in 1999 for $43 million.

Mr Saines said if the project got the go-ahead it would involve considerable disruption, including closure of the art gallery building for between 24 months and 27 months.

Much of the gallery's $270 million collection of artworks would have to go into storage.

A draft plan would see the gallery closed from mid-2006 to 2008.

Mr Saines said it was also essential for the gallery to maintain a presence in the city and keep the professional skills and institutional knowledge of the 68 fulltime-equivalent staff.

Councillor William Cairns, who chairs the Art Gallery Enterprise Board, said the redevelopment was a fantastic project because for $20 million the council got a $75 million benefit to take the gallery into the 21st century.

His Auckland Citizens & Ratepayers Now colleagues ranked the redevelopment high on the wishlist of projects for this year's budget.

Mr Cairns said it would add to the heritage redevelopment of the Auckland Town Hall, Civic Theatre and old Chief Post Office.