Mural outcry prompts new council policy on artworks

The Khartoum Place mural, unveiled for the suffrage centenary in 1993, was to be removed as part of a $2 million upgrade. Picture / Richard Robinson

A public stoush over whether Auckland's suffragette memorial mural in Khartoum Place is a blight on the landscape or an inviolable monument has led to a specific policy to deal with any future plans for art works.

The Auckland City Council's arts, culture and recreation committee has developed a policy outlining the procedures to be followed when council plans involve any artworks in its collection.

Chairwoman Penny Sefuiva said the need for a specific policy was clear after public outcries last year over the proposed removal of the mural and Terry Stringer's 25-year-old Mountain Fountain sculpture in Aotea Square.

She said the new policy recognised that removal of public artworks would be considered only when no other option existed and only after careful evaluation.

"When it comes to public artworks, decisions are often charged with emotion and driven by subjective views. It is paramount that we have a policy in place that will guide decision-making."

The new policy was to ensure there was a clear and open process under which decisions were made, and to show respect for the artist's moral rights, as well as the integrity of the artwork and its site.

Feedback was sought from more than 120 people involved in the arts industry.

It would be included in any future contracts for commissioned art works and would be part of the council's public art policy. It would cover all the outside artworks owned or leased by the council (there are 290 pieces in the collection).

The Khartoum Place mural, which was unveiled for the suffrage centenary in 1993, was to be removed as part of a $2 million upgrade.

Its creator, Jan Morrison, called for public reaction to council plans to "decommission" the 12-year-old tiled artwork.

The council spent $200,000 on consultants and a design competition for the re-design, only to have the plan scrapped after women's groups rallied against it.

People supporting the removal included arts patron Jenny Gibbs and Elam school of fine arts professor Carole Shepheard, supported its removal. Others, including the National Council of Women, Dame Cath Tizard and politicians Lianne Dalziel and Margaret Wilson, opposed it.

A council spokeswoman said a new concept for Khartoum Place, which includes retaining the mural and steps, will be released for consultation next month.