Two major grants, totalling $125,000, have brought the Mahara Gallery Trust Board significantly closer to its goal for funding the redevelopment of Mahara Gallery.
The New Zealand Community Trust has granted $100,000 towards funding the project while Paraparaumu Rotary Club has extended an earlier pledge to a total of $25,000.
‘These grants are both welcome and timely given that the Kāpiti Coast District Council has now granted a building consent and the firm awarded the contract for the work will soon move onto the site,’ said Gallery Trust Board Chairman, Gordon Shroff.
‘We are grateful to both organisations for their generosity and commitment to the project.’
While the grants lift the Board above the 90 percent level of required funding raised, Gordon Shroff said considerable work remains to be done to reach the target.
He said the NZCT grant was an endorsement of the Mahara project’s value to its community at both a local and national level.
NZCT Chief Executive, Mike Knell said: ‘It’s great that the Field Collection will remain in the local community and NZCT was able to help fund this significant project.’
Gordon Shroff said the Paraparaumu Rotary Club grant coincides with the club’s decision to wind up and distribute its assets and membership.
‘While we are sad for Paraparaumu Rotary Club, we are delighted and grateful that the club has been able to build on previous pledges to our project from money raised from its Art Shows.
We applaud the club for its foresight in wanting to ensure that the project proceeds so that the Field Collection can be kept in Kāpiti.’
The project has been a partnership involving Kāpiti Coast District Council, the Gallery Trust Board and the Field Collection Trust.
Kāpiti Coast District Council is contributing $2.8 million of the estimated $6.5 million project.