Committee recommends retaining transitional public art gallery

An Invercargill City Council committee has recommended extending the contract to operate a transitional public art gallery in the heart of the city.

At a Community and Regulatory Committee meeting yesterday, elected members received a report outlining the options available regarding its relationship with the Invercargill Public Art Gallery Inc (IPAG), and the provision of a public art gallery facility and service within the city – currently being provided by the transitional gallery and museum He Waka Tuia.

He Waka Tuia was opened to the public in 2020.

Committee members agreed to recommend renewing Council’s contract with IPAG until 30 June, 2031.

Committee chair Councillor Darren Ludlow said the recommendation to extend the remit of He Waka Tuia until 2031 would allow Council to work through its long-term options for the provision of a public art gallery in Invercargill.

“This is about ensuring our community continues to have access to meaningful arts experiences, while we carefully consider what the future of that looks like in our city,” he said.

“Council’s partnership with IPAG has consistently demonstrated an operationally-sustainable service for our community, and He Waka Tuia has done a tremendous job of ensuring visual arts continue to remain a visible and valued part of Invercargill.”

The cost per year to retain the facility would include $299,128 for transitional gallery facilities including front-of-house funding, and additional support costs of $13,720.

A further $135,876 would be required for the lease until this reached the end of its term on 1 October 2027. Following this, the lease would likely increase to $146,221.

IPAG Manager Sarah Brown said the committee’s recommendation would enable IPAG and Council to continue delivering an arts facility in collaboration with one another.

“The recommendation to extend Council’s support of He Waka Tuia is about recognising the importance of the arts in not only adding to the vibrancy of a community, but in ensuring our community sees itself reflected within its creative spaces,” she said.

“Our team is extremely proud of the work we do to increase the visibility of the arts and culture within our community, and how much this resonates with the many visitors to He Waka Tuia.”

IPAG was currently contracted to deliver 12 exhibitions – both on and off-site – each year, with a user target of 21,000 people. It also delivered multiple public programmes and events for a wide cross-section of the community.

Council Group Manager Community Spaces and Places Rex Capil said other options considered by committee members included not renewing the contract to continue operating He Waka Tuia, which would have seen the facility cease operations from 1 January, 2027, or renewing its contract only until the opening of the new regional museum, Te Unua Museum of Southland, in 2027.

Each of the three options would also see the continuation of Council’s annual grant of $314,000 for IPAG’s base activities, principally around collection management and core staffing costs.

The recommendation included that He Waka Tuia be rebranded, to operate as a transitional public art gallery only, following the opening of new regional museum Te Unua Museum of Southland in 2027. In that instance, IPAG would continue to manage its operations, with support from and in partnership with Council, Capil said.

Mayor Tom Campbell, and Councillors Grant Dermody and Ria Bond, voted against the recommendation.

A final decision would be made at a full Council meeting on 26 May.