The International Sculpture Center is proud to announce that Auckland Art Gallery is a partner and co-sponsor of the 2013 International Sculpture Symposium. We will hold our panel discussions at this newly re-opened gallery, as well as the welcoming celebration! The Auckland Art Gallery, recently reopened in 2011, is the perfect venue for the 2013 symposium.
The Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki is New Zealand’s oldest established and largest public art gallery. Opening in February 1888, the gallery has increasingly become a focal point of Auckland’s rich and diverse cultural fabric, and now lies at the heart of the New Zealand art experience for both the local community and visitors alike.
The gallery holds a collection of over 15,000 works by national and international artists dating from the 12th century to the present day. These include major holdings of historic, modern and contemporary art, and outstanding works by Maori and Pacific Island artists. The Gallery commissioned three Maori artists to create permanent and enduring works in celebration of the building development.
The main gallery is housed in one of the city’s oldest civic buildings, a New Zealand Historic Places Trust building, much admired for its beauty and timeless architecture. The building has undergone numerous adaptations and transformations since it first opened in the late 19th century to keep up with the changing times. The redevelopment is part of the Into the future strategy of the Auckland City Council to turn the city centre into one of the world’s most vibrant and dynamic business and cultural centres. For more details on the redevelopment of the Auckland Art Gallery, visit the Auckland City Council website
The new and improved Auckland Art Gallery received three national awards, including the Project Achievement Award for Museum or Gallery Development and two of the 2012 New Zealand Architecture Awards: Heritage and Public Architecture. At the New Zealand Museum Awards, the judges were impressed with Auckland Art Gallery, stating that it is ‘A world class art museum that values both its architectural heritage and contemporary opportunities, where old and new flow together and engage with the city and park contexts. It is leading by example in its building and programming – features including gold star accessibility, sustainable timber features, artists commissions integrated with design and strong curatorial outcomes – all superbly realised.”
Here are two videos on the Auckland Art Gallery reopening and featuring its new accessibility.
International Sculpture Symposium 