Since opening in February 1970, the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery has been at the forefront of contemporary art in New Zealand.
The Gallery was established as a contemporary art museum through a generous gift from New Plymouth resident Monica Brewster (nee Govett) and her associated trust deed with New Plymouth City. Mrs Brewster's gift financed the purchase and conversion of the Regent Cinema and created a fund for the development of the Gallery's permanent collection.
The Monica Brewster Trust Deed has ensured that the Gallery has Directors of national standing with the authority to acquire art works and determine Gallery policy. These factors have helped the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery to become a leading contemporary art museum.
The Gallery's opening exhibition was a groundbreaking sound and light installation by Auckland artist Leon Narbey. Since then the Gallery has continued to present innovative and challenging work by New Zealand and international artists.
The Gallery houses an important permanent collection with a focus on contemporary art from New Zealand and the Pacific Rim, in line with the focus of its founding policy. Collection strengths include sculpture, conceptual art and abstract art from the 1970s and 1980s and contemporary sculpture.
The Gallery also holds the foremost collection of work by New Zealand-born artist Len Lye, on behalf of the Len Lye Foundation. The collection includes Lye's groundbreaking kinetic sculptures, photograms and experimental films, and a substantial archive. Exhibitions from the collection and archive are shown in the Gallery twice a year over the summer and winter months.
The Gallery also houses five long-term loan collections: the Helene Quilter Collection; the Relt Trust Collection; the Hamish McKay Collection; the Peter Robinson Collection; and the Paris Family Collection.
The Gallery runs an international artist residency programme, focused on the development of new projects and associated publications featuring new writing.
The Govett-Brewster Art Gallery is principally supported by the New Plymouth District Council. Additional support is provided by a number of valued partners and sponsors.
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