NZ's newest art gallery and first public gallery in northern Southland to open next week

New Zealand’s newest public art gallery, Fusion, will open in Lumsden, northern Southland, next week.



The gallery will be launched on May 14 with an exhibition and silent auction dubbed The Undy Four Hundy - so the public can buy NZ art for $400 or less.



Organiser Michelle Wallis said the event, which closes June 12, would raise capital and profile for the gallery in the community.



``Our research showed that we get up to 100,000 travellers a year through our town so it seemed crazy that we were not utilising our position better,’’ Wallis said today.



``There were no other public galleries in northern Southland and so we formed the Northern Southland Creative Arts group and we have set up the Fusion studio and gallery. We have started something very special down here in Lumsden. We offer all artists the chance to exhibit with us if they join our group. ‘’



One of the group’s new members artist Marimba Powley will run the gallery as curator and artist on the premise.