Councillors have confirmed an annual budget dedicated to maintaining Council-owned public art in Marlborough.
Arts, Culture and Heritage Manager Nicola Neilson presented the paper at the Council meeting last week, saying that previously there had been no formal maintenance programme or dedicated budget for this.
“Council has more than twenty pieces in its public art collection including sculptures, pou and other installations. These have come into our care through a combination of grants, community partnerships, direct investment, and donations.
“Most of these public artworks are in open, accessible areas around Marlborough such as parks, streetscapes, and waterfront areas. They all contribute to our cultural identity and the visitor experience across the region,” Mrs Neilson said.
The budget allocation of $20,000 per year will enable a dedicated and planned approach to inspections, minor repairs, cleaning and conservation which will in turn ensure public safety, she said.
Council is currently working with New Zealand artist Grant Williams to repair and refresh the eye-catching Seedling sculpture located on the Taylor River Reserve.
Wear and tear over time had resulted in the appearance of several cracks in joints within the sculpture so the leaves were removed for repair for safety reasons, Mrs Neilson said.
“The artist is in the process of reconstructing the joints and will then work with a local engineering company to have the sculpture reinstalled.
“The timing of this is dependent on the artist’s schedule around his other commissions. However, we are hopeful that Seedling will be reinstated soon,” she said.
“This example highlights the issues that can arise with maintaining artworks. An annual budget means we can get ahead of any deterioration and better maintain sculptures and public art, at a lower cost overall.”
