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Aigantighe Art Gallery, Wai-iti Rd, TimaruThe 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 Sydney Lough-Thompson (1877-1973). Afternoon Market, Concarneau, Brittany. OilAigantighe 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.

Regional, National and International Contemporary and Historic Exhibitions

3D Sculpture exhibition (2007) Photo Geoff CloakeSixteen new widely-sourced exhibitions are shown each year in the modern wing. Site-specific contemporary installations have been curated such as 129 Oaks which told the story of the famous Lovelock Oak in Timaru. Collaborations with overseas collectors have seen exciting exhibitions such as Swiss-Italian Impressionism (2004), Fashion in the Style of Frida Kahlo (2006), Generation (Dutch art 2007) and Native American Art (2007). As the public art museum of South Canterbury, Aigantighe puts a particular focus on professional, emergent and "outsider" regional artists. Exhibitions by other regional artists are sourced by networking with artists, museums, dealer galleries and private collectors.

School children from Lake Tekapo show Chen their drawings of him.

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.

School Holiday Programmes

Ang the Purple Fairy with Chen the living sculpture and their puppet friendsSchool holiday programmes are hugely popular and keep families occupied for hours. Aigantighe ‘firsts' include Art Hunt booklets which really get children looking at artworks and Chen Tse-Lung the 600 year old Chinese warrior sculpture who comes alive! Also on are Art competitions, Colour Costumes with treats for all and great prizes. Colour Puppets take over the Aigantighe in the holidays and invite children to see the art works through their "fantasy museum" eyes.