Gallery itching to show restored work

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Ashburton Art Gallery curator manager Shirin Khosraviani shows one of the restored paintings.
Ashburton Art Gallery curator manager Shirin Khosraviani shows one of the restored paintings.
The Ashburton Art Gallery is still punching above its weight in the art world, with international, national and local exhibitions seen in galleries with much bigger budgets.

It is staffed by paid and volunteer workers who are passionate about bringing art to Ashburton, as well as protecting special collections held on behalf of the community.

Curator manager Shirin Khosraviani, who has been busy raising the gallery’s profile over the past eight years, says two exhibitions by renowned international artists who grew up in Ashburton helped draw more than 13,000 visitors to the gallery between July and December last year.

David Richard’s Echoes from the Sound Barrier (on until March 20) and Marjan Verstappen’s Atlas of Nowhere (last July and August) also helped boost the little gallery’s reputation.

‘‘Both were born and raised in Ashburton and had their education in Ashburton, then went overseas.

‘‘Due to the popularity of the gallery and its reputation, they approached us for shows, which was quite a unique experience. Both shows have had great feedback due to the local connection,’’ she said.

The two exhibitions were among 11 for the six-month reporting period, the curator told Ashburton District Councillors, adding the gallery was seeking an extra $9400 on its annual operating grant of $385,000. The money would be spent on professional development for staff, all of which were underpaid for their qualifications, she said. Some had only just moved up to the living wage.

The gallery’s income is constrained by conditions of its resource consent, which allows limited gatherings and commercial activities. The conditions can be reviewed in five years’ time but the gallery has not let that hamper its operations.

Care and documentation of the gallery’s permanent collection is also an important task and last year they had two works returned to the gallery after specialist conservation.

Ms Khosraviani said staff were also tracking down and documenting council’s collection of paintings and other works, though some pieces had not been able to be tracked down. It was possible they were tucked away in a cupboard of a district hall or under a bed; these are not valuable pieces.

Councillors will consider the gallery’s request for an extra $9400 at its budget deliberations later this month.