Gallery ideal for museum’s permanent collection of art

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The committee of the Gisborne Artists’ Society strongly supports the appeal made recently by Heather Van Wyk for display in an area of the Tairāwhiti Museum, of a selection of the Permanent Collection of Art.

This is a large range of works, including high-status paintings of national significance from throughout New Zealand. The collection is of great value and also includes numerous works by local artists, many of whom are no longer living, but whose skill and influence deemed their creative efforts worthy of purchase.

It seems obvious to us, as was pointed out by Ms Van Wyk, that the Jack Richards’ Gallery would be the ideal place to display such works.

Prof. Jack Richards’ widely acclaimed collection has unfortunately gone from that space, why not give this community the opportunity of seeing what is held in storage?

Many of the pieces in the permanent collection have been gifted to the collection by local people, but what use is their gifted art if it is rarely seen by the people of Gisborne?

The Permanent Collection is so rarely viewed by anyone, most local residents would be oblivious to its existence.

Gisborne Artists’

Society Committee