Museum underplayed, visitors say

Some visitors to the Museum Theatre Gallery Hawke's Bay say too great an emphasis has been placed on the gallery. Photo/Warren Buckland

Museum Theatre Gallery Hawke's Bay is under fire from dissatisfied visitors who believe it is more an art gallery than a museum.

However, its director said the refurbished facility, which opened its doors in September last year, contained more history exhibitions than art exhibitions.

A number of Hawke's Bay Today readers have complained that too much emphasis has been placed on art exhibitions.

One texter said: "Much to our disappointment my wife and I both thought that it seemed to be more art gallery than museum. Just where have all the old museum HB artefacts gone?"

"MTG is minimalist, white walls and trendy. All fancy pants and oh so boring," another texter said. "That is not what we want in our museum. Please bring out all the treasures we know you have in storage. We want to explore, study and learn, not yawn."

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton shared widespread sentiment that the focus was too heavily on art.

"I personally agree that it's too much gallery not enough museum," Mr Dalton said.

A review had been done highlighting deficiencies and measures were being undertaken to make "significant changes," Mr Dalton said.

The review, conducted by "museum experts," had found "the whole thing too minimalist".

It had always been the plan to do a review, but the review had been done earlier than planned because of "very clear issues".

A storage issue had also been identified, which was being dealt with.

But MTG director Douglas Lloyd Jenkins said art exhibitions were a minority at the facility.

Of the 13 exhibition spaces at the facility, four were currently dedicated to art gallery-type exhibitions.

Two floors, consisting the remaining spaces, were devoted to regional history exhibitions including Earthquake, Ukaipo (the story of the local iwi), a local pioneer craftsperson, the history of the MTG site and most recently an exhibition on the Spiritualist movements of Havelock North, Mr Lloyd Jenkins said. "Anyone who takes time to visit the MTG will find it a rich and rewarding repository of the region's heritage."

A visitor approached by Hawke's Bay Today said he believed the facility was more an art gallery than a museum.

"They packed all the historic stuff in and now the director isn't bringing it out because he's more interested in art," he said.

"It's his art gallery."

A Napier souvenir store staff member said she had received a number of complaints from visitors about the facility not having enough historic artifacts.

Mr Lloyd Jenkins said there was immense community support for a top-level art gallery in the region.

"We are, and have been since the 1930s, the leading art gallery for the region and the display of art will always be an important part of what we do."

Art Deco trust manager Sally Jackson said she had received positive as well as negative feedback about the facility and she saw "huge potential" in it.

"It's only been open for a short period of time and needs to be given the opportunity to shine," she said.