Opportunity to fund Sarjeant Gallery work - 4/10/2011Mayor Annette Main says Wanganui may have the opportunity to provide for the extension needed to maintain the Sarjeant Gallery as a major national institution and to undertake necessary earthquake strengthening without requiring any ratepayer funding for the capital works.
On Monday the Wanganui District Council considered a proposal to apply for substantial government funding for work needed at the gallery which houses a nationally important and significant collection.
“The Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage has spoken in public on a number of occasions about his appreciation of the importance of the Sarjeant Gallery and has acknowledged the care our community has been taking of nationally important artworks,” Mayor Main said.
“He is supportive of extending the gallery to meet future requirements and believes this can be done with central and philanthropic funding. As a result, council representatives have met with a professional fundraising company, who have a proven track record in preparing successful funding applications to central government and major private funders. $105,000 would be required to prepare a funding application to government, and the necessary collateral for approaches to private funders, some of which would come from the Sarjeant Gallery Trust.”
The cost of the project would be approximately $19M which includes about $5.7M for earthquake strengthening of the existing building and $1.8M for roof and parapet repair works. There would be savings in current council budget because planned environmental control work could be done as part of the extension project.
At Monday’s council meeting, the council wanted more details about the extension project and funding and these will be provided at a workshop on Thursday this week. | 
