How to use the Queenstown Art Centre to generate more money for the Queenstown Art Society, while keeping it open and available to the community, was debated during the society's annual meeting last week.
A total of 11 committee and society members last week heard guest speakers Queenstown Lakes district councillor Cath Gilmour, council arts and events facilitator Jan Maxwell and Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt, who were invited to offer their thoughts on the future of the art centre.
The next rent review of the council-leased rooms is in three years. The rent could rise if the cost of maintaining the old school rooms goes up.
Cr Gilmour doubted the council would spend money on insulation, when asked about the issue of heating during the winter.
Mrs Maxwell discussed retail and ticket sales, which would help fund a full-time gallery manager and make the society more financially viable.
Mr Everitt said the baby-boomer generation of visitors to Queenstown were not so interested in the adrenaline-fuelled activities available and were keen on softer pursuits, such as gallery tours.
Conference and incentive markets could be approached to hire the art centre and the rooms would continue to be a convenient base for groups involved in the Winter Festival, given its proximity to the town centre.
The society expected to hear in June if its application to the Lottery Grants Board for $12,000 was successful. The planned $24,000 refurbishment of the rooms this winter hinged on the grant, society president Barbara Glass told the Queenstown Times.
It was decided the annual membership would rise, for the first time in 20 years, from $20 to $25.
Memberships will now begin in November, to capitalise on the popularity of the annual Locations Art Awards.
Mrs Glass as president, Claire Waddick as vice-president and Noeline Murch as secretary all returned to their roles. Denise Sadlier became the new treasurer.
The committee welcomed three new members: Olivia Porter, who attends the society's life drawing classes; Glenorchy acrylic and watercolour artist Annette Thomson and Maeve Allen, a Christchurch mosaic artist, who moved to Queenstown after her studio was destroyed by the earthquake.
The Queenstown Art Centre hosts a mask-making workshop on June 25 and a lantern-making workshop on June 26, as part of the Winter Festival.
