Art gallery charge

Press, 31 July 1986, Page 14

Art gallery charge

Sir,—l have a leaflet that stresses how the Robert McDougall Art Gallery is free. Yet recently the Peruvian exhibition, which took up the righthand side of the gallery, resulted in a $5 charge to the whole gallery. This resulted in those wishing to see the Pearson exhibition only, which was in the lefthand side of the gallery, being either charged $5 or refused admission. Among those charged was the husband of a woman whose portrait is among the gallery’s permanent collection of Pearsons; much to his annoyance, as he was coming purely to see his friend’s exhibition before he left for Thailand. Two Americans now resident in Christchurch also were unable to see the Pearsons as they resented paying $5 for an exhibition they did not wish to see (from Peru) as they had already seen it in America. I am sure there will be the usual rationalisation for this but, frankly, think the policy of charging for the whole gallery for an exhibition that takes up only part of it, should be reviewed.—Yours, etc., R. L. RODGERS. July 14, 1986.

[Mr John Coley, director, Robert McDougall Art Gallery, replies: “The brief reply to your correspondent’s concern is that the McDougall and the managing staff are small, the costs of presenting international exhibitions and the number of people attending them are high. The limitations of staffing make control difficult. Council policy is to recover high costs by charging admission to the gallery. I regret the instances referred to in the letter. Visitors desiring access to specific exhibits should make their desires known. We are very understanding. However, the policy will continue for David Hockney, Canaletto and Qin Shihuang. Between times, we are free.”]