Art That Tries To Fund Itself

This is a different tale of public art from Affordable Auckland Mayoral candidate Stephen Berry. “I’m accustomed to commenting on Auckland Council wasting ratepayer money on public art because it is not the job of the Council to spend other people’s money on art. This time I’ve come across a perplexing situation where an art gallery has a plan to become self-sufficient but the Council won’t allow them.”

Mr. Berry is referring to the Pah Homestead which is the home of the Sir James Wallace Art Collection. Currently the Homestead receives a $350,000 annual grant from Auckland Council but has a plan to survive without Council funding. The Homestead would like to add an events centre but cannot build where it wishes because it is blocked by a protected Pheonix Palm Tree.

“This situation should be an easy no-brainer; cut down the tree so the Pah Homestead can build their event centre and save the ratepayer $350,000.”

Affordable Auckland says the funding of arts in not a core Council function and would eliminate its budget. “We say arts funding is a matter for private individuals and philanthropists. The Council should be applauding a plan for the preservation of an art collection without costing the ratepayer.”

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