15 Jun Multi million Dollar Sarjeant Gallery Trust Redevelopment Fund Nearing Target
15 June 2017
A Lottery Board grant of $6 million that has brought a proposed $35 million redevelopment of Whanganui’s historic Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua within reach has prompted a call for
supporters to get the project across the line before the December deadline.
The grant which is conditional on the Sarjeant Gallery Trust raising total funds and meeting central Government requirements by December 20, 2017, takes the amount of money raised for the project to just over $32 million –$3 million dollars short of the target figure.
Trust chairman Nicola Williams says the Trust has a “very robust” fundraising plan in place and the Lottery Board grant has brought the finishing line in sight. She says a number of other applications for funds are being lodged with private trusts and the project continues to attract donations from individuals and organisations. That includes a recent $10,000 grant from Whanganui law firm Treadwell Gordon.
“We are nearly across the line and are urging people who are behind the project to give us their support now,” says Ms Williams.
Ms Williams says the project has attracted support from local and central Government and the recent Lottery Board grant has given the project another huge boost recognising the national significance of the historic gallery and its art collection. “Every cent counts in the push to get this important project across the line and I know we can do it,” she says.
Ms Williams says fundraising initiatives like the Thousand Stars Programme enable individuals to support the re-development for as little as $5 a week over a four year period. Local businesses are also being encouraged to get behind a Business Partners Initiative that is part of the fundraising package.
Ms Williams says if everything goes to plan the construction phase will get underway in 2018. The redevelopment is expected to take two years ( check). It includes restoration and earthquake proofing of the historic 98-year-old heritage Sarjeant Gallery in Pukenamu Queen’s Park and construction of a purpose built building to the north of the gallery with large exhibition spaces , storage education facilities and spaces for retail and events giving the gallery an opportunity to host touring national and international exhibitions and regularly showcase works in the extensive and nationally significant Sarjeant art collection.
Anyone wishing to make a donation towards the redevelopment should contact Greg Anderson (details below) or go to the Sarjeant Gallery website www.sarjeant.org.nz for further information.
For further information
Greg Anderson
Director
Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui
DD 06 349 3246
E-mail: greg.anderson@sarjeant.org.nz