The Aigantighe Art Gallery in Wai-iti Road, Timaru is renowned internationally for its art collection and innovative exhibition and education programmes. It was founded in 1956 by the Grant family who came from Scotland and it now holds the South Island's third-largest public art museum collection. In 1978 a large modern wing was added giving extensive exhibition space. The Aigantighe prides itself on being a friendly and thought-provoking art museum for everyone.Aigantighe is Scottish Gaelic for ‘at home' and is pronounced ‘egg and tie'.
The Permanent Art Collection Aigantighe holds New Zealand, Pacific, Asian and European art works from the sixteenth century to the present day. Its British Victorian painting collection is of great significance. Masterpieces by Goldie, Hodgkins and McCahon (born in Timaru) feature in a room dedicated especially to them and six new thematic exhibitions from the permanent collection are held in the House Gallery each year. The Aigantighe is well known for its extensive and innovative use and unique interpretation of its collection in entertaining, well-researched exhibitions.
Education Programs
The Aigantighe actively supports life-long learning and has energetically launched a number of New Zealand art museum education programme ‘firsts'. Historic painting dress-ups are replica children's costumes of those depicted in Victorian paintings in the Aigantighe's collection. For visually impaired and blind visitors special touch sculptures and "tactiles" which have a raised relief replicate paintings in the Aigantighe's collection and labels in Braille are in development. Each year two special events focus on younger artists: Artarama! The Festival of South Canterbury Student Art and Polychrome, the Aoraki Polytechnic exhibition. A list of art awards and competitions plus entry forms are held at the Aigantighe. School tours and curriculum-linked worksheets for specific exhibitions or aspects of the collection are available. To book in your class or arrange a tour for your group just call the Gallery.