Signing on the dotted line:Professor Les Holborow, Mahara Gallery Trust Chairman; Mayor K Gurunathan; Janet Bayly, Director Mahara Gallery; Pat Dougherty, Kapiti Coast District Council Chief Executive; Simon Brown, Trustee Field Collection Trust; Councillor Michael Scott, Ward Councillor for Waikanae; Kay Brown, Trustee Field Collection Trust.

Plans to upgrade the Mahara Gallery are still firmly in the Kapiti Coast District Council's sights following the signing of an agreement between the Council, the Mahara Gallery Trust and the Field Collection Trust.

The Mahara Gallery Trust Board welcomed the formal signing of the Agreement for the Upgrade of Mahara Gallery.

Trust Chairman, Professor Les Holborow says Kapiti Coast District Council's plans for the revitalisation of the Waikanae Town Centre and upgrade of the Waikanae Library provide a unique opportunity to create a shared library and gallery complex.

"It represents a change in direction from the original plan to redevelop or refurbish the two existing buildings but it is one we have embraced," he said.

"We recognise what an asset a combined gallery-library complex would be in a revitalized Waikanae Town Centre and we are working closely with the Council to make it a reality".

Mayor K Gurunathan says the Council has made provision to partially fund the upgrade of the Mahara Gallery in its Long term plan.

"The Mahara Gallery is the Kāpiti Coast's public gallery and our plans to transform and improve the Waikanae town centre and upgrade the Waikanae Library recognise the importance of having a public gallery in Kāpiti."

The Council has been working with the Mahara Gallery Trust and Field Collection Trust to achieve the upgrade of the gallery since 2009.

At the same time the Council has been exploring opportunities to create a shared gallery and library facility as part of its work to transform and improve the Waikanae town centre.

"Both the Library and Gallery are important community assets and we are committed to providing a high quality venue that will enable the Mahara Gallery to display the Field Collection and realise its visitor attraction potential," Mayor Gurunathan said.

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