Government yet to decide on fees and how it will staff new art gallery following proposed museum cuts

THE NT Government is yet to decide if it will charge an entry fee its new art gallery, or how it will staff it, following proposed cuts to a major tourist attraction

An artists impression of what the Civic and State Square precinct could look like.

• Design tender awarded for new State Square art gallery

THE NT government is yet to decide if it will charge an entry fee to the State Square Art Gallery, or how it will staff the gallery, following proposed cuts to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT).

In July, it was revealed five positions were proposed to be cut at the MAGNT in response to reduced funding.

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The cuts were part of the NT government’s budget repair plan and reduced MAGNT’s core funding by $848,000 over two years and an annual reduction of 1 per cent thereafter.

It is believed the MAGNT is still consulting staff on the cuts.

Despite the cuts, the MAGNT is still expected to staff the $50m State Square Art Gallery, which it will manage on behalf of the NT government and is part of the Civic and State Square Masterplan redevelopment.

The Civic and State Square Masterplan, which is a major part of the Darwin City Deal.

“Decisions on what level of resourcing MAGNT will be provided to develop the opening exhibition program and the ongoing operation of the State Square Art Gallery will be made by the Northern Territory government,” a spokeswoman said.

“MAGNT is being consulted on this.”

Tourism, Sport and Culture Minister Lauren Moss said operational decisions were yet to be made.

“The operational needs of the State Square Art Gallery will be considered as part of the business planning process currently under way, which will also determine how many operational jobs will be required,” she said.

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It is believed the MAGNT has no plans to introduce an entry fee at its Darwin gallery.

Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, the MAGNT attracted more than 330,000 visitors to its six public sites, including more than 230,000 to its Darwin gallery.

The new art gallery, which is part of the Civic and State Square Masterplan, is expected to open in late 2023.

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