Foundations laid for art centre build

“Exciting and crazy-busy!” is how project director Andrew Garratt describes the current status of the Hundertwasser Art Centre project.

Shortly after the referendum a HAC Project Control Group was formed to manage the fundraising and building phases.

“We have a regular Friday meeting” explains Andrew, “but the real work is being done between times, by our specialist teams. As you can image, fundraising and marketing are the busiest right now, but there’s also plenty of work going on in finance, operations and construction planning.”

The project remains community-led and run by volunteers.

“The calibre of people the project has attracted just amazes us” says Andrew. “Whangarei has some truly talented and well-connected people and organisations, with impressive skills in all the areas we need. Everyone is giving their time and expertise at a level that suits them.”

More help is always needed. “This is an enormous project and we won’t turn away anyone who wants to contribute. If you or your company wants to get onboard, just let us know.”
Approaches have been made to governmental funding bodies about contributions. With that work progressing, attention is now turning towards the community fundraising campaign.

Discussions are underway with governmental funding bodies and a community fundraising campaign is launching.

“Our $16.25 million target must be reached before June 2017 for the Hundertwasser Art Centre to go ahead” says fundraising team leader Helen Whittaker. “With one third already secured, we’ve got 18 months to raise the rest. We can definitely do it, but we need the help the community.”

Who is  leading the project?

Prosper Northland Trust – the group of community volunteers who championed the project through the referendum process & are now working to ensure it gets built.

Whangarei Art Museum Trust – the charitable trust which raises and holds the funds, and will be the eventual operators of the HAC.

Wairau Māori Art Gallery Board – a group of esteemed Māori artists and scholars who are developing the kaupapa for the Māori content of the HAC.

Hundertwasser Non Profit Foundation – based in Vienna, the Foundation are the protectors of the Hundertwasser legacy and integral partners in the process of building the HAC.

HAC Project Control Group – the governance body, made up of representatives from all the above organisations, who have overall responsibility for the funding and building phases of the HAC project. The Project Director reports to the PCG and manages the Finance, Fundraising, Marketing, Construction and Operations teams. Hundertwasser HQ and YES! Whangarei come under the overall management of the PCG.

This painting was designed and created by Tutukaka artist Carolyn Radford, will be coloured-in as donations are received. The huge wall mural is on display at Hundertwasser HQ (James Street, Whangarei)