Art gallery to go underground?

Press, 26 August 1980, Page 6

Art gallery to go underground?

A specialised paper conservation unit — where valuable papers, books and manuscripts are stored — may be .developed in underground extensions , planned for the McDougall Art Gallery.

the Christchurch City Council’s cultural committeeyesterday recommended that plans for the underground'extensions of 185 sq m to the gallery be prepared. A feasibility study by a council structural design engineer (Mr M. Stockwell) estimated that the excavations would cost $22,000, of which $15,000 would come from the Museums arid Art Galleries Scheme grant and another $BOOO from the 1980-81 estimates.

When completed, it would be the second specialised paper unit in New Zealand, the other being at the . Alexander Turnbull Library. This unit tended to concentrate upon library material,

specifically that of the National Library, according to the director of the McDougall gallery (Dr T. L. R. Wilson). "Under this scheme Christchurch will take care of its own internal paper problem and that of other institutions on a charge-out basis,” Dr Wilson said. "In turn, it will send its paintings to Auckland, Wellington, or Dunedin where specialised wbrk will be done for us and we will be charged.” Mr P. J. R. Skellerup, a member of the cultural committee, said: “We have the money and by using cheap labour available under the Special Projects Scheme we can establish another asset for the gallery. “The work should be begun as soon as possible,” he said. The committee hoped work could begin on the project early next year.