Aigantighe Art Gallery Redevelopment

As part of the Long Term Plan, Council considered how best to secure the Aigantighe Art Gallery as the home of art in South Canterbury. This key community facility is in need of upgrading and we want to take the opportunity to plan for a facility that will be used for generations to come..
Currently, the Art Gallery buildings on the Wai-iti Road site include the historic Homestead, known as the House Gallery and the adjoining extensions. Decisions have already been made to earthquake strengthen and restore the historic House Gallery. $3.7M has been included in the budget for 2021/22 and 2022/23 for this project and preparation work is underway

Council Decision

Following consultation with the community, Council has decided to construct a new facility on the current Wai-iti Road site

This decision aligns with the earthquake strengthening of the Heritage House Gallery. The projects will now include:

  • Constructing a fit for purpose facility including storage onsite;
  • Demolition of the 1978/1995 extension;
  • Constructing a modern, purpose built Art Gallery on existing Wai-iti Road site;
  • Maintaining links with the Historic House Gallery and sculpture garden;
  • All current storage issues resolved and no need for offsite storage;
  • Art collection protected and temperature humidity controlled;
  • Greater ability to improve our services for our community with educational space.

This project is planned to start in 2023/24. Funding includes $9.9 million of additional new funding, funded by debt. It also includes $2.9 million additional operating costs from 2023/24 to 2030/31, funded from rates. Council will also seek funding assistance through grants and donations for this project. Any funding assistance received will reduce the amount Council needs to borrow for this project.

The challenge

The redevelopment options we are considering now focus on the adjacent Art Gallery Extension buildings. These buildings include the main gallery space, collection storage, an additional storeroom and the staff offices We have identified some issues with both buildings including:

  • A lack of storage and conservation space for the growing art collection;
  • Restrictive exhibition space;
  • Limited disability access;
  • Limited education space;
  • Public toilets not meeting current building standards;
  • Limited temperature and humidity control;
  • Roof strengthening work required.

The future

How much space do we need into the future for our Art Gallery – Is the current footprint sufficient?

Increasingly our community facilities like the Art Gallery, Museum and Libraries are being used as community focal points. At the Aigantighe we currently host small concerts and theatrical performances in the established grounds adjacent to the buildings, and provide school holiday activities with an “art” focus.
When the new Heritage Centre on Stafford Street is completed, it will be the site for large touring exhibitions that we cannot currently host.
If we want to continue or expand the types of activities provided at Aigantighe, as well as having sufficient space to house a growing art collection and to showcase the work of local and visiting artists, we need to provide for this in our redevelopment planning.

The options

Our preferred option is option 1.

Option 1 - Constuct
Summary of Option

Construct a new facility on the current site.

This option will align with the strengthening of the House Galley and will ensure all our Aigantighe facilities are fit-for-purpose.

What this option will look like

Planned to start in 2023/24, this option will see:

  • Demolition of the 1978 and 1998 extension.
  • Construction of a modern, purpose-built Art Gallery on the existing Wai-iti Road site.
  • Links with the historic House Gallery and garden maintained.
  • All current storage issues resolved and no need for off-site storage.
  • Our art collection protected with temperature and humidity control.
  • Greater ability to improve our services with space for educational programmes and exhibitions.
  • Improved public amenities and office space.

If we don’t demolish the extensions, we have a couple of other options, both including the need for off-site storage. We will need to undertake further investigations to determine the best off-site storage option and final costs.

Capital Costs

$9.9M

Debt funded. Council will seek funding assistance through grants and donations for this option. Any funding assistance received will reduce the amount Council needs to borrow for this project.

Operating Costs

$2.9M

Additional operating costs from 2023/24 (Year 3) to 2030-31 (Year 10) funded by rates.

These include interest, depreciation and other costs (e.g. additional staff).

Option 2 - Maintain
Summary of Option

Maintain current buildings and develop off-site storage.

This option will resolve our storage issues, but our other challenges with the current buildings will largely remain.

What this option will look like

This option will see:

Current Buildings

  • Short term solution given the condition of these buildings and their expected lifespan of 8-10 years
  • Some remedial work on roof and strengthening will still be required
  • Public toilets will remain under code
  • Lack of temperature and humidity control will remain a challenge.

Off-site storage options

  • Purpose built collection storage facility – $2.5-3M
  • Off-site lease – $850-$950K including fit out for art storage
  • Retro-fit an existing Council building – $800-900K including fit-out for art storage.
Capital Costs

$850K-$3.3M

Debt funded. Council will seek funding assistance through grants and donations for this option. Any funding assistance received will reduce the amount Council needs to borrow for this project.

Operating Costs

$1.6M

Estimated additional operating costs from 2023/24 (Year 3) to 2030/31 (Year 10) funded by rates.

These costs relate to the ongoing maintenance required for the existing buildings, interest and depreciation for the off-site storage.

Option 3 - Partial Refurbishment
Summary of Option

Partial refurbishment of current buildings and develop off-site storage.

This option will provide a limited upgrade of the public amenities and workspaces; and will resolve the current storage issues. This option will not address the limited exhibition space in the current buildings.

What this option will look like

This option will see:

Current Buildings

  • Upgrade public toilets to bring them up to code
  • Refresh some workspaces
  • Upgrade ventilation system
  • Undertake strengthening work and roof upgrade
  • There will be no upgrade or extension to the exhibition space.

Off-site storage options
These options are the same as in Option 1 above.

Capital Costs

$1.8-$2.2M

For refurbishment

+ $850K-$3M

For off-site storage, debt funded.
Council will seek funding assistance through grants and donations for this option. Any funding assistance received will reduce the amount Council needs to borrow for this project.

Operating Costs

$2.4M

Estimated additional operating costs from  2023/24 (Year 3) to 2030/31 (Year 10) funded by rates.

The increased operating costs relate to the maintenance required to existing buildings, interest and depreciation for the offsite storage.

Option 4 - New Gallery
Summary of Option

Construct a new Art Gallery on a site near the Theatre Royal/Heritage Hub.

including spaces for education, creativity, collection storage and exhibition space.

What this option will look like

*This would place a new purpose-built Art Gallery closer to the cultural and heritage hub at the south end of Stafford Street
*The historic House Gallery would continue to be earthquake strengthened and would remain open as a public facility
*There would be no need for a separate off site storage facility.

Capital Costs

$11.2-$14.7M

Debt funded
Council will seek funding assistance through grants and donations for this option. Any funding assistance received will reduce the amount Council needs to borrow for this project.

Operating Costs

$4.4M

Estimated additional operating costs from 2023/24 (Year 3) to 2030/31 (Year 10) funded by rates.

Increased operating costs relating to the running of a separate Art Gallery including staff costs, maintenance, interest and depreciation.

Preferred Option

1

Option 1 - Constuct

2

Option 2 - Maintain

3

Option 3 - Partial Refurbishment

4

Option 4 - New Gallery

Summary of Option

Construct a new facility on the current site.

This option will align with the strengthening of the House Galley and will ensure all our Aigantighe facilities are fit-for-purpose.

Maintain current buildings and develop off-site storage.

This option will resolve our storage issues, but our other challenges with the current buildings will largely remain.

Partial refurbishment of current buildings and develop off-site storage.

This option will provide a limited upgrade of the public amenities and workspaces; and will resolve the current storage issues. This option will not address the limited exhibition space in the current buildings.

Construct a new Art Gallery on a site near the Theatre Royal/Heritage Hub.

including spaces for education, creativity, collection storage and exhibition space.

What this option will look like

Planned to start in 2023/24, this option will see:

  • Demolition of the 1978 and 1998 extension.
  • Construction of a modern, purpose-built Art Gallery on the existing Wai-iti Road site.
  • Links with the historic House Gallery and garden maintained.
  • All current storage issues resolved and no need for off-site storage.
  • Our art collection protected with temperature and humidity control.
  • Greater ability to improve our services with space for educational programmes and exhibitions.
  • Improved public amenities and office space.

If we don’t demolish the extensions, we have a couple of other options, both including the need for off-site storage. We will need to undertake further investigations to determine the best off-site storage option and final costs.

This option will see:

Current Buildings

  • Short term solution given the condition of these buildings and their expected lifespan of 8-10 years
  • Some remedial work on roof and strengthening will still be required
  • Public toilets will remain under code
  • Lack of temperature and humidity control will remain a challenge.

Off-site storage options

  • Purpose built collection storage facility – $2.5-3M
  • Off-site lease – $850-$950K including fit out for art storage
  • Retro-fit an existing Council building – $800-900K including fit-out for art storage.

This option will see:

Current Buildings

  • Upgrade public toilets to bring them up to code
  • Refresh some workspaces
  • Upgrade ventilation system
  • Undertake strengthening work and roof upgrade
  • There will be no upgrade or extension to the exhibition space.

Off-site storage options
These options are the same as in Option 1 above.

*This would place a new purpose-built Art Gallery closer to the cultural and heritage hub at the south end of Stafford Street
*The historic House Gallery would continue to be earthquake strengthened and would remain open as a public facility
*There would be no need for a separate off site storage facility.

Capital Costs

$9.9M

Debt funded. Council will seek funding assistance through grants and donations for this option. Any funding assistance received will reduce the amount Council needs to borrow for this project.

$850K-$3.3M

Debt funded. Council will seek funding assistance through grants and donations for this option. Any funding assistance received will reduce the amount Council needs to borrow for this project.

$1.8-$2.2M

For refurbishment

+ $850K-$3M

For off-site storage, debt funded.
Council will seek funding assistance through grants and donations for this option. Any funding assistance received will reduce the amount Council needs to borrow for this project.

$11.2-$14.7M

Debt funded
Council will seek funding assistance through grants and donations for this option. Any funding assistance received will reduce the amount Council needs to borrow for this project.

Operating Costs

$2.9M

Additional operating costs from 2023/24 (Year 3) to 2030-31 (Year 10) funded by rates.

These include interest, depreciation and other costs (e.g. additional staff).

$1.6M

Estimated additional operating costs from 2023/24 (Year 3) to 2030/31 (Year 10) funded by rates.

These costs relate to the ongoing maintenance required for the existing buildings, interest and depreciation for the off-site storage.

$2.4M

Estimated additional operating costs from  2023/24 (Year 3) to 2030/31 (Year 10) funded by rates.

The increased operating costs relate to the maintenance required to existing buildings, interest and depreciation for the offsite storage.

$4.4M

Estimated additional operating costs from 2023/24 (Year 3) to 2030/31 (Year 10) funded by rates.

Increased operating costs relating to the running of a separate Art Gallery including staff costs, maintenance, interest and depreciation.