The Millennium Art Gallery Trust Marlborough and the Marlborough District Council engaged Giblin Group to undertake an independent feasibility study of its proposed new building project, a combined new Marlborough District Library and Art Gallery facility to be built as part of the Riverside Precinct revitalisation in Blenheim. The feasibility study related to the Millennium Public Art Gallery part of the project only.
The Millennium Public Art Gallery is currently housed in a converted former Council office building. The building has many shortcomings and is not up to the standards expected of a modern art gallery for the exhibition, care and preservation of its collection. The Art Gallery is unable to cater to current community needs due to limited space for both display and storage of the collection and touring exhibitions, and lack of accessibility due to location.
The project will see the Art Gallery upgraded to meet international exhibition requirements and also further enhance Marlborough’s growing reputation as an arts destination. It will address concerns such as inadequate storage space and conditions, inadequate staff working space, exhibition spaces including technical requirements, limited education facilities and disability access.
The Art Gallery will share its new facility with the Marlborough District Library, and it is hoped the architecturally designed building will become a community hub and heart of the town.
The Feasibility Study found that the Millennium Public Art Gallery’s relocation into the new purpose-built facility would provide many benefits for the region including providing a destination for locals and visitors alike. It was found to be feasible subject to the success of raising the necessary funding to fit-out the facility appropriately for the Art Gallery’s services and programmes.