Arts museum idea gets thumbs-down

Press, 22 July 1986, Page 9

Arts museum idea gets thumbs-down

The Government’s suggestion of a new $lBO million arts museum in Wellington got a thumbsdown from Christchurch City councillors last evening. It was anti-Christ-church, anti-South Island and anti-Auckland to build a monument on Wellington’s waterfront, said Cr John Burn. Cr David Close also spoke against the Minister of Art’s proposal. The money would be better spent in existing museums and maraes throughout the country. Cr Ron Wright, too, wanted to see the money

spread. The proposal had its supporters however, among them Sir Hamish Hay, and Crs Helen Garrett and Alistair James.

Sir Hamish argued that the money was not available for anything other than the Wellington building and was better spent on a national arts treasury than not spent. Crs Garrett and James said a national showcase was needed because the existing art gallery which housed national treasures was too old, too small and inclined to flooding. “We’ll show the national treasures right

down here in Christchurch if they give us the money for a new art gallery,” said Cr Louise Moore.

The councillors rejected a recommendation of support for the proposal with reservations about funding for the regions and instead voted for a more modified Wellington building with money going to the regions. Cr Vicki Buck’s suggestion that the new art museum be built at Wellington Airport so visiting dignitaries could see the treasures and the airport would be improved was not taken seriously.