More Info →Sign outside Horowhenua Art Centre, Levin

Description

The Levin Art Society has been in existence since 1949 and became an incorporated society in August 2003, being renamed Horowhenua Art Society Incorporated.

This change was a move to encompass the whole of the Horowhenua region and have the ability to apply for funding to build the Art Centre which stands here [Bath Street, Levin] today.

The Levin Art Society held its first meetings at Thompson House — right next door to in current location. They had
several moves over the years from the Guide Hall in Parsons Avenue, to the Methodist Hall in Kent Street, then to the Scottish Hall in Bartholomew Road where it was agreed at a Special Meeting on the 16 November. 2005 to"investigate the possibility of owning/havIng our own rooms" with a sub-committee being formed to carry outinvestigations and report back.

After discussions with tho local community, background research and continuous fundraising, The Levin Art Society. has been in existence since 1949 and became an incorporated society in August 2003, being renamed Horowhenua Art Society Incorporated.This change was a move to encompass the whole of the Horowhenua region and have the ability to apply for funding to build the Art Centre which stands here today. The Levin Art Society held its first meetings at Thompson House — right next door to in current location. They had several moves over the years from the Guide Hall in Parsons Avenue, to the Methodist Hall in Kent Street, then to the Scottish Hall in Bartholomew Road where it was agreed at a Special Meeting on the 16 November. 2005 to"investigate the possibility of owning/havIng our own rooms" with a sub-committee being formed to carry out investigations and report back.

After discussions with tho local community, background research and continuous fundraising, Horowhenua District Council and Horowhenua Learning Centre came together and New Zealand's first "Mayor's Task Force Fund" was created under the guidance of Mayor Brendan Duffy and Horowhenua Learning Centre Director Malcolm Russell. The fund was established to allow local young people the opportunity to work under a professional builder, on a specific community project, and was first set up by Mayors around New Zealand to assist with unemployment and to help upskill young people.

The Art Society "Paid the princely sum of one dollar in full payment for the gardeners' shed on 7 August 2007" at a sod turning ceremony bv Mayor Brendan Duffy which was attended by many local dignatories, members of the art society and local community, and the projects "three matriarchs"— Dorothy Burt, Katy Harding and Joan Keogh.

Building commenced under the careful eye of Phil Halliday (Builder and Tutor) in conjunction with the following trainees: Gregor McGregor, Ethan Daly, Andrew Gordon, Adam Simonson, Joshua Chasland, Esra Littleton, Daniel Goss and Antonia Toscano.

As the local commeunity watched the building take form, it became evident that this was a very special project.The old gardeners' shed was Incorporated into the new building, various morning teas were delivered for Phil and the boys, many passers-by admired the progress, with the project being officially completed on Saturday, 12Aprll 2008. The official opening saw the ribbon cut by Mayor Brendan Duffy and the late Iris Tonks (the Society's oldest member at the time).

Since the official opening, the Art Centre has become an Integral part of Levin's cultural/artistic heritage, with the rooms being open most days for local artists to enjoy the spacious studio, chlldren's classes being run, the annual "'Art in the Park" day, visiting tutors and workshops being held and many fine paintings being exhibited in the gallery. It Is Indeed a very special place that local artists and lovers of art can at last call 'home'.

Horowhenua Art Society Inc. gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the local and national community which has allowed us so both complete the project:and remain debt free.

Identification

Date

March 2013