Flushed with a lack of success

Newly appointed Cultural Czarina Sally Patrick has already hit the first speed bump on the road to glory paved for her by the Diva.

Stuffing the Sarjeant overflow into the Alexander Library via a "corridor" isn't a starter, according to parks and culture manager Keith Hindson. This, Watchers will remember, was floated by the Diva at the last Mayoral forum as a way of preserving and protecting the Sarjeant art overflow (and thus avoiding trouble with donors) whilst still being perceived by his uncultured support base as not giving a damn about art.

But Hindson had already knocked that idea on the head back in 2004, as previously noted by LawsWatch and finally woken up to in today's Chron, concluding it was "not a viable option". He pointed out that not only were works of art at risk, but possibly also staff and the public. Trying to squeeze part of the Gallery into a library which is only 750 square metres would lead to:

• An increase in the cost of services, infrastructure and staff required to manage two independent buildings.
• Curtailment of current activity, services and events.
• Degradation of the Sarjeant’s “flagship” status.
• No additional gallery display space to facilitate community-related events.
• No improvement in the collection storage conditions and capacity.
• Sending the "wrong message" about the status of the arts in Wanganui.
• Creating uncertainty about the future of the Gallery (a bit late to worrry about that now, we suggest).
• The possibility of some of the collection having to be sold off.

None of this is new, of course. But with the newly appointed Ms Patrick no doubt keen to put her stamp on things as "Cultural Manager"where does this leave Mr Hindson, quoted as "Culture Manager" and, most importantly, as pouring cold water all over the Diva's meisterplan?

As First Mate Warburton reshuffles the chairs on Captain Laws's Titanic, it seems some may get hurled overboard.

Comments on this post are now closed.