Gallery’s campaign pays off

Press, 27 January 1988, Page 6

Gallery’s campaign pays off

The fund-raising campaign by the Robert McDougall Art Gallery for its annex seems to have paid off. The recent “Stuffing On” exhibition netted $36,960 from an admission charge. With the $30,000 already promised by the Lottery Board and a $5OOO sponsorship from a Christchurch firm the total stands at between $65,000 and $70,000. The gallery had set the target of $97,500 for capital and administration costs when the item was dropped from the Christchurch City Council’s budget last year.

Yesterday the council’s cultural and community services committee gave the gallery and its director, Mr John Coley, a vote of confidence when it recommended that work start in the belief that the gallery would find the remaining $30,000.

Cr Clive Cotton said the council should reverse its decision that the whole sum had to be in the bank before work could begin. Mr Coley and the gallery staff would raise the money, he said. “Let’s get work started. It has already been delayed. I have faith in Mr Coley,” he said. The recommendation will go to the council. The gallery had hoped to open its annex in the former Centre Gallery at the Christchurch Arts Centre last August. Mr Coley then hoped the gallery might raise the money by the end of 1987.

The committee decided yesterday work should begin in this financial year.