New Gallery Extends Hamilton's Arts Offer

29 September 2014

Hamilton’s arts offer will be extended when Waikato Museum opens The Barry Hopkins Gallery on 17 October 2014. The new gallery has been funded by philanthropist and Museum supporter Barry Hopkins in partnership with Hamilton City Council.

Waikato Museum Director Cherie Meecham says the new gallery developed in the former Canvas restaurant space will feature a series of six-week long exhibitions curated by Waikato Museum, often in collaboration with the art collector himself.

“The contribution Barry Hopkins has made to Hamilton’s arts offer through his collection and now this gallery is truly outstanding. 

“The new gallery is developed to an international gallery standard and including ArtsPost’s three galleries, Waikato Museum will now operate eight seven-day art galleries in the south-end arts precinct.”

Barry Hopkins’ vision for the new gallery development is for the public to experience more from Waikato Museum’s collections.

"There is now an opportunity for artworks from Waikato Museum’s collections to be seen on a more regular basis and for shorter time periods,” he said.

Collection Pairs, the inaugural Barry Hopkins Collection exhibition will open from 17 October - 30 November 2014. This exhibition exploits the relationships of the Barry Hopkins Collection in relation to the Museum’s other art collections.

Other exhibitions planned for the new space will include a celebratory exhibition to ‘show off’ the best works gifted by deed in the past 40 years from the Friends of Waikato Museum and a celebration of the Cricket World Cup during February and March 2015.

“The Barry Hopkins Collection is an inimitable treasure like the collector and The Barry Hopkins Gallery is the perfect tribute,” said Ms Meecham. 

Admission to The Barry Hopkins Gallery will be free.

Image: Barry Hopkins

About Barry Hopkins

Despite having never created a piece of art himself, Barry Hopkins is an avid art collector. Hopkins was born in Auckland in 1942 and educated at Kings College. He has lived much of his life in Ohaupo and  began collecting art at the age of sixteen when, by chance, he came across M.T. Clayton’s painting of Abel Tasman’s ships Zeehaen and Heemskerck in the garage of a family friend. From this point on, Hopkins became a keen collector of art and art objects – a dedication that has led to an active presence in the Waikato art community and an impressive art collection, much of which is cared for at Waikato Museum.

Hopkins is a member of the Aotearoa Institute which established Te Wananga o Aotearoa, formed close relationships with artists such as Buck Nin and Paratene Matchitt, and developed a vested interest in emerging Maaori contemporary art. He is a member of the Waikato Society of Arts, a former president and current member of the Friends of Waikato Museum and a former sponsor of the National Contemporary Art Award.

For more information contact:

Louise Belay
Waikato Museum Partnerships and Communications Manager
07 838 6956
021 536 557
louise.belay@hcc.govt.nz