Sarjeant Gallery café call for operators

Published on 15 May 2023

Whanganui District Council is seeking expressions of interest for suitable café operators for the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui redevelopment.

Mayor Andrew Tripe says, “The Sarjeant Gallery redevelopment project is the largest arts development underway in New Zealand at the moment. This major project, due to reopen in 2024, will see the 104-year-old gallery transformed into a modern state of the art facility. It will be earthquake strengthened and extended with the addition of a new modern wing to the rear of the original gallery called Te Pātaka o Sir Te Atawhai Archie John Taiaroa.”

He says, “Whanganui offers a unique experience to visitors and to the people of our district alike. We are enriched by our connection with the Awa and our natural environment. We also celebrate our heritage architecture and our sporting history and are inspired by our business innovators and our creative community. Each of these enhance our identity and will shape our future direction.

“I think the redeveloped Sarjeant Gallery will be a strong expression of that identity, particularly in relation to the Awa, our arts and our heritage. We’ve been thinking of the redeveloped Sarjeant Gallery as a gathering place and connection point, for all of our community. It will be full of culture, art and ideas. There will be something there for everyone, and everyone will be welcome. As ever, the gallery will be free."

As part of this project, a new café is proposed that will be located within Te Pātaka o Sir Te Atawhai Archie John Taiaroa.

The café is intended to be a welcoming space, where gallery visitors can relax, socialise, and enjoy a range of food and beverages. It will be light, airy, fully glazed and located in prime position on the ground floor, with views of Ruapehu and the surrounding area from the rear paved patio and lawn beyond.

"One of the things we are all hoping for in a café partner is really good quality coffee, although that goes without saying! Healthy fresh food that’s available without too much waiting," says Andrew Clifford, Sarjeant Gallery director. “It won’t be a three course meal type of place, with a lengthy wine list, but rather the café will provide contemporary breakfast, brunch, lunch and snack food, and maybe an end of day drink to complete your gallery experience.”

The café space is adjacent to the gallery’s event spaces and shop. Like them, it will provide a revenue stream for the gallery, contributing to the gallery’s ongoing operating expenses, he says.

“One of the goals of the Sarjeant is to be welcoming and accessible for our community and for the many regional, national and international visitors who will come to visit. By providing an inviting space where people can relax and socialise, the café will break down some of the barriers that can prevent people from visiting places like museums and galleries.”

Jonathan Sykes, acting chief executive for economic development agency Whanganui & Partners, says the proposed café is just one of the many exciting changes that are coming to the Sarjeant as part of its redevelopment.

“With its modern facilities and nationally significant art collection, the gallery will be a huge visitor drawcard for Whanganui,” he says.

Sykes says while many centres saw visitor spend drop under the impact of Covid, Whanganui was able to grow its visitor spend over the period and has held onto that momentum. In 2022, Whanganui had tourism spending growth of +2.5 percent, while New Zealand had growth of +1.4 percent.

"Our visitors are excited by the hospitality and experiences Whanganui has to offer. Whanganui is attracting more visitors than ever and it is quality experiences like visiting the Sarjeant that will continue to build our national profile as New Zealand’s only UNESCO City of Design, and keep bringing visitors back. The gallery itself, its exhibitions, the facility and its surroundings are sure to be popular and the café will be an integral part of the consumer experience.” 

“Whanganui District Council and the Sarjeant Gallery are looking for an innovative hospitality operator who wants to be a part of Whanganui’s future.” says Andrew Clifford. "This is a chance for the right operator to make their mark and join us in this exciting next stage of the Sarjeant Gallery's life."

The café will suit businesses that have an offsite kitchen or collaborative arrangements with other providers where fresh goods can be brought in.

The café operator will also have the opportunity to be the preferred catering partner of the gallery. With the creation of dedicated hosting spaces, increased capacity and broader attraction, the gallery anticipates strong and sustained growth in catered events, creating additional income potential for the café operator.

The re-developed Sarjeant Gallery will open in 2024 with the cafe operator on site in a fully operational setting.

Expressions of interest are being welcomed now and will be open until Friday, 23 June 2023. Interested operators should contact the Sarjeant Gallery’s specialist advisors for further details: Lorraine Nicholson of First Retail Group at sarjeant@firstretailgroup.com