24 June 2004

Auckland Art Gallery funding approved

The future of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki was strengthened yesterday when Auckland City Council’s combined committees agreed to commit $20 million to a major development project. The funding is part of a $75 million project to further develop the gallery and undertake necessary seismic and heritage protection work. The Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki will soon embark on a major fund-raising campaign to raise the $55 million balance from a range of external funding sources.

“The Art Gallery is one of Auckland’s most beautiful historic buildings, and we are happy to contribute towards preserving a building that’s overdue for a facelift,” says Deputy Mayor, Mr David Hay.

Studies have shown the building needs significant work to be able to withstand predicted seismic activity in the city.

Along with seismic strengthening, the development will increase the size and improve the flexibility of the gallery.

“This development means some of New Zealand’s best art works will be available more often for people to see,” says Mr Hay.

“It is a premium arts asset for the Auckland region and New Zealand that contributes to tourism and regional and economic growth, while offering a dynamic place for recreation, leisure and learning.”

The development is part of Auckland City’s draft Auckland CBD Into the Future strategy to revitalise the CBD into one of the world’s most vibrant and dynamic business and cultural centres.

The work will require the gallery to be closed for up to 27 months, during which time exhibitions will continue to be held at the New Gallery.

This project is similar to the highly successful Town Hall and Civic Theatre upgrade ones during which both buildings underwent seismic strengthening and refurbishment.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>