Wagner Nicky: Bishop Suter Art Gallery Governance Restructuring Bill — First Reading 
Wagner Nicky: Bishop Suter Art Gallery Governance Restructuring Bill — First Reading 
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NICKY WAGNER (National) 
: 
 I too rise to support the Bishop Suter Art Gallery Governance Restructuring Bill sponsored by Dr Nick Smith. The Bishop Suter Art Gallery is a highly respected and much-loved gallery with a fascinating history and after this restructuring bill a bright future. It is one of New Zealand’s oldest public art galleries and it is the only public art gallery in New Zealand that is not currently publicly owned. This bill will shift the gallery into the 21st century and give it a major legal and administrative makeover. The sign outside the gallery’s main entrance invites visitors to “Remember Experience Dream”. Indeed the whole history of the gallery is the fulfilment of a dream. 
The story began in 1890 with the death of Nelson Anglican Bishop Andrew Burn Suter a Victorian clergyman who knew and loved art. His widow Amelia established the gallery to house the Suter collection and as a memorial in permanent form using funds originally intended to buy the late bishop a farewell presentation. The site was located in Queen’s Gardens and in 1899 the original building which is still used today was officially opened with massed choirs speeches and two public slide shows. An elegant new wing was opened 80 years later in 1979. 
In the 1890s the idea of a public art gallery was novel especially in a fledgling colonial community. Suter’s idea of an art gallery reflected the New Zealand Company’s philosophy for the settlement of Nelson. The company brought the full range of British citizens—from gentry to worker—to Nelson in the hope of establishing an egalitarian society that celebrated arts and culture. As the founding president and critic of the Bishopdale Sketching Club Bishop Suter promoted art to everyone in Nelson. He was a great believer in the civilising power of art and is often quoted as saying that bad drawing is a kind of sin; it is a libel on nature. 
It would be very interesting to speculate on his reactions to modern art and to the modern Suter Art Gallery. The original Suter collection has expanded to become an important catalogue of works of major 19th century and early 20th century artists. It includes a large collection of watercolours by the 19th century landscape artist John Gully and several by Charles Goldie and James Richmond but it also has an extensive contemporary collection featuring Tony Fomison Errol Shaw and Jane Evans. It also houses what is probably New Zealand’s best collection of paintings by Sir Tosswill Woollaston who is one of the founders of modern art in New Zealand and who spent his early painting years in Mapua near Nelson. Not long ago I visited the gallery and was impressed by the energy of the staff and the Bishop Suter Art Gallery Trust Board. The gallery is full of young people experimenting with art. The exhibition that was on was called Pakeha Now! curated by Anna-Marie White. The exhibition was discussed recently by Tariana Turia. Here in my hand is the catalogue. It was indeed a challenging exhibition. 
Looking beyond all of the activities in the art gallery I could see that the gallery itself needs redevelopment to upgrade its facilities and to care for its very important and valuable collections. To this end I support this bill and look forward to seeing the Suter flourish and grow and continue to offer visitors the opportunity to “Remember Experience Dream”.