Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery suffers significant visitation decline

The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery in Hobart has suffered a significant drop in visitor numbers which the Tasmanian Government says is “not unexpected”.

Reopened in early 2013 after a $30 million redevelopment project, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG), a centrepiece of the Hobart waterfront, became the most visited attraction in Tasmania in 2013/14.

TMAG recorded 475,702 visits in the year, the highest visitation rate in its history.

However, visitor numbers to the cultural institution dropped 115,000 to 359,825 in 2014/15.

Commenting on the decline, a Tasmanian Government spokeswoman stated “attendance figures immediately following the opening of the redevelopment at TMAG were exceptional so it was not unexpected that the 2014/15 figures showed a decline off what was a period of high visitation.”

The high numbers that visited TMAG in 2013/14 were keen to experience the multi-million dollar refurbishment undertaken by former Director Bill Bleathman under the then Tasmanian Labor Government.

Former Labor Treasurer Lara Giddings said closing the site on Mondays to save 1% of the annual budget - a decision now partly reversed – and shortening daily opening hours, had had a massive impact on visitation to a once vibrant “buzzing” tourist attraction.

Giddings added “they are not promoting the museum the same as before ... the excitement around TMAG has disappeared.”

An additional $700,000 was found in this year’s Tasmanian Budget to support TMAG’s strategic plan and allow it to open on Mondays from Boxing Day until the end of March and Monday public holidays.

In the lead-up to the 2014 state election, the then Labor Government announced a $170 million plan to make to create an artistic hub as the next stage of the TMAG redevelopment.

Giddings said there was no talk of future development of the site with no mention of it in the TMAG strategic plan.

TMAG’s visitation figures for 2015/16 are yet to be released.

27th November 2013 - STUDY REVEALS THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC ART MUSEUMS

2nd April 2013 - UPGRADED TASMANIAN MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY REOPENED

20th November 2012 - MONA GRABS GLOBAL INTEREST BUT TASMANIA NEEDS TO UP SPENDING ON TOURISM MARKETING

31st July 2012 - $75 MILLION PERFORMING ARTS ACADEMY PROPOSED FOR HOBART’S CBD