‘There is no doubt in my mind that Len Lye is an extraordinary artist and national icon. A Len Lye Centre would become a major cultural attraction for both New Plymouth and New Zealand.’ Dr Seddon Bennington, Former Chief Executive, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
The Len Lye Collection and Archive has been under the care of New Plymouth’s Govett-Brewster Art Gallery since 1980. Of the approximately 70,000 people that come to the Gallery each year, a significant number request to see Len Lye's work. To meet this demand while enhancing the visibility and preservation of this large and fragile collection, the New Plymouth District Council in partnership with the Len Lye Foundation is working towards realising the Len Lye Centre for the benefit of New Plymouth and New Zealand.
Capital costs for the construction of the Centre, estimated at NZ$10 million, will be raised outside of local authority sources. The annual net operating cost of the Len Lye Centre will be jointly funded through support from sponsorship, revenue generation, fund-raising and the New Plymouth District Council. The New Plymouth District Council will own and operate the combined Len Lye Centre and Govett-Brewster Art Gallery.
The Centre would guarantee consistent access to Lye's work and see New Plymouth become the world centre for the care, display, research and development of the works and ideas of this extraordinary thinker and visionary artist. The Centre would be a significant cultural attraction for New Zealanders and international visitors to Taranaki.
‘The Centre would attract domestic and international visitors to New Plymouth and has the potential to boost the city's creative economy’ Bill Macnaught, Manager Puke Ariki
The site for the Len Lye Centre is in central New Plymouth, on the corner of Devon St West and Queen St, adjacent to the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery. This site acknowledges the long association between Len Lye and the Gallery, and maximises the benefits of shared facilities, services, staff and management.
Plans for New Zealand’s first single-artist museum include a programme of dynamic exhibitions showing the full range of Lye’s work in sculpture, film, painting, photography and creative writing. The inclusion of a cinema to show Lye’s work alongside other independent filmmakers is planned as well as online access to the Len Lye Collection and Archive. Fulfilling the artist’s intentions, the Len Lye Foundation is undertaking the realisation of a number of small and large scale kinetic works.
Len Lye Committee Chair, Cr. Lance Girling-Butcher comments, ‘The Len Lye Centre project will make an outstanding contribution to the quality of life for the people of New Plymouth and will provide a new destination for national and international visitors to Taranaki. The Centre will join the region’s other leading cultural and environmental attractions and strengthen New Plymouth’s unique place as a culturally and economically progressive community.’
The partnership between the Len Lye Foundation and New Plymouth District Council, with museum leadership from the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery is key to the development of the Len Lye Centre. A fundraising campaign to secure public and private investment, sponsorship and partnership is currently underway towards the realisation of the Len Lye Centre.
Len Lye Centre frequently asked questions
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