Plea for new art gallery

Press, 2 October 1987, Page 5

Plea for new art gallery

The member of Parliament for Lyttelton, Dr Peter Simpson, does not believe that the proposed Victoria Square tower would justify the resources it would consume.

Dr Simpson, in his maiden speech in Parliament yesterday, made a strong plea for a new art gallery site. A new and enlarged art gallery “would immeasurably enrich the cultural life of the city for residents and visitors alike.”

“The sort of gallery I envisage would not be just a palace of high art for a social elite but a vibrant

focus for the creative energies of the whole community. “By comparison, a tower, however boldly and imaginatively conceived, seems inadequately rooted in the life of the city to justify the resources it would consume.”

Dr Simpson, who is president of the Friends of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery, said the best projects for Christchurch were those which benefited both residents and visitors.

Visitors would enjoy most projects that gave

expression to the character of the city. The potential for Christchurch to develop its strong traditions as a cultural centre, like Adelaide, were considerable. Dr Simpson said the present art gallery building had hopelessly inadequate resources. The building could not be expanded and had the same amount of exhibition space today for its 4000piece collection as in 1932, when it had 200 works.

Throughout his speech, Dr Simpson made a powerful plea for the arts

mentioning by name or quoting from a variety of New Zealand artists and writers. He even made his own contribution in doggerel by reading a ballad he had composed during the Lyttelton tenure of Mrs Ann Hercus.

Dr Simpson conceded that the ballad was written in “admittedly execrable verse.” It ended: “And last but no means least, As I’m sure you’ll all

agree The redoubtable Ann Hercus, Our superlative M.P.”