Located in Civic Square, City Gallery Wellington opened in 1980 as the first non-collection, exhibition based public gallery in New Zealand. As a pioneering gallery, City Gallery Wellington is suitably located in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital of art and culture, known for offering alternative and innovative perspectives. The gallery is a non-profit institution and is managed by the Wellington Museums Trust, and is funded by the Wellington City Council.
Read MoreAs the City Gallery Wellington has no collection, the gallery operates though exhibitions of local and international work. This concept allows the gallery to show the work of new and up-to-date artists, as well as of famous and historic artists, without the financial constraints of purchasing works. Since its opening, the City Gallery Wellington has hosted many successful exhibitions featuring international artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Tracy Emin and Frida Kahlo; and New Zealand artists including Bill Hammond, Ralph Hotere and Shane Cotton.
The gallery also runs a public education programme, featuring events and lectures relating to current exhibitions. This programme is also involved in the art education of Wellington primary and secondary schools.
The city's mayor said a proposed restructure could compromise the gallery's ability to attract and present major exhibitions.
Photography is kind of chimerical; it can be almost anything you want it to be. It is such a powerful medium and that is why I took it up— I could almost feel it in my bones.
In 2002 young Auckland-based artist Yvonne Todd was surprise winner of the inaugural Walters Prize, New Zealand’s premier contemporary art award. Tempting the ire of conservative critics,
I worry that the idea of curators as authors has been downgraded. I'd like to see more extroverted curating.
