Fundraising effort for Wellington National Music Centre hits $18 million

Fundraising for the planned National Music Centre in Wellington’s Te NgÄkau Civic Square is well on track, with the total now at $18 million.

The campaign has been boosted with the gift of $1 million from well-known Wellington entrepreneur and philanthropist Chris Parkin, announced at a dinner yesterday in support of the centre, held at Victoria University of Wellington. Parkin’s gift includes commissioning a significant artwork by a contemporary New Zealand artist.

Victoria University of Wellington and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra have committed to raising $30 million towards the fit-out of the facility, planned as a state-of-the-art which will be home to the University’s New Zealand School of Music – Kōkī (NZSM) and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. The centre will be available for use by the wider community and provide a foundation for musical performance, education, culture and the arts in New Zealand.

Parkin’s gift brings the campaign funds close to two-thirds of the $30 million fundraising goal.

Wellington City Council recently announced that 101 Wakefield Street, formerly the Municipal Office Building, will become part of the Centre.

The latest gift follows leadership gifts from the Adam Foundation, T G Macarthy Trust and New Zealand Lottery Grants Board while the New Zealand Government recently announced a $6 million grant towards the project to increase ‘access, participation, education and film scoring’.

Dame Kerry Prendergast, Chair of the joint fundraising committee, stated "we are now even closer to realising this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform Wellington Town Hall and the surrounding precinct.”

Under a 25-year lease the university's NZSM, with the NZSO to be based at the centre which also includes the Wellington Town Hall and Michael Fowler Centre.

Images: Wellington's Municipal Office Building will become part of a national music centre under an agreement signed by Wellington City Council, Victoria University of Wellington and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.