Forrester Gallery to Enhance Accessibility with Major Upgrades

The Forrester Gallery, located in Oamaru, is set to undergo significant renovations aimed at enhancing accessibility and visibility for the community. Since its inauguration on May 6, 1983, by former Waitaki MP and Lands Minister Jonathan Elworthy, the gallery has hosted over 700 exhibitions and attracted thousands of visitors.

As part of the transition, the final exhibitions in the current building will include works such as Sione Túvailala Monū and Edith Amituanai’s Toloa Tales, Sara McIntyre’s Kākahi to Kākanui, and He Mahi Kei te Haere — A Work in Progress. Visual arts curator Anna McLean emphasized the gallery’s commitment to making its collection more visible and accessible to the community.

Community-Focused Goals and Renovations

“One of our goals this year is to highlight and acknowledge artists and voices within our rohe that may be missing,” McLean stated. The gallery holds over 2500 taoka, and as the collection evolves, so too will its representation of the vibrant Waitaki community.

During the closure, various improvements will take place, including the installation of new exhibition lighting, transferring collection shelving and artworks into a climate-controlled store, and the establishment of new education and reception spaces. This work will be carried out by gallery staff, council facilities personnel, and external contractors.

McLean highlighted the diversity of the collection, which features contemporary works that explore everyday life in Aotearoa New Zealand, alongside significant historical events. The gallery also houses 618 architectural drawings from the Forrester and Lemon eras, donated by HK Steenson in 1984. Notably, works by local artists Colin Wheeler and Hubert Struvk, as well as photographs by former Oamaru Mail photographer Anthony McKee, capture the essence of manual labor in local industries.

Improving Access and Experience

Another significant addition will be lift access to all three floors of the Forrester Gallery, a development that Chloe Searle, the Waitaki District Council arts, culture, and libraries manager, described as crucial for improving visitor experience. “I am delighted there will soon be lift access to all three floors,” Searle noted. “This makes our spaces accessible for visitors who require the use of a lift and also ensures the safety of our staff when transporting artworks.”

To test the new lifts, four former staff members, including former gallery director Warwick Smith, will participate in the process, reminiscing about the years they carried artworks up and down the wooden staircase.

By the middle of the year, the Forrester Gallery will unveil its new education space, collection store, and modern main gallery space, marking a new chapter in its longstanding dedication to the community and the arts.