History of the Art Gallery and Manawatu Art Collection

Governor General, Lord Cobham, opened the first Art Gallery in Palmerston North in 1959.

This converted house, once on the corner of Grey and Carroll Street, served the region well until the mid 1970’s.

During the 1960’s directors especially James Mack bought contemporary New Zealand art to Palmerston North. Major works were purchased by the Society including Colin McCahan, Don Binney, Pat Hanley, Rita Angus, Todd Wollaston, Michael Smither, Michael Illingworth.

During the decade of the 1970’s the Manawatu Art Gallery with the Society had established a reputation as a significant New Zealand contemporary art collector and regional gallery.

In the 1970’s directors and the Society continued to collect and mount exhibitions of emerging New Zealand artists such as Don Driver, Philip Clairmont, Tony Fomison, and Robin White.

When the Carroll Street gallery began to no longer be fit for purpose, director Luit Beringa and the Society decided to pursue the idea of building a new modern gallery. Funds raised by the Society members covered a significant amount of the final cost.

Ex railway land was purchased and architect, David Taylor and engineer, Don Irvine drew up plan for an Art Gallery to be built on this site.

In 1977 the Art Gallery was opened by former mayor, Sir Brian Elwood

Skillful directors, Margaret MacKean Taylor and Julie Catchpole among them, continued to forge friendships and alliances with contemporary artists who added to the collection with generous gifts of study materials and works on paper.

Read more