Todd Energy makes generous pledge to Len Lye Centre

The Len Lye Centre project has attracted an outstanding corporate supporter, with the announcement of a $2.5 million contribution from Todd Energy towards the construction of the building. The announcement was made today by John Todd, Chairman Todd Corporation, at the opening of Todd Energy’s new McKee LPG Plant in Taranaki.

Todd Energy has also pledged an additional $100,000 a year for five years for an innovative education programme for the combined facility of the Len Lye Centre and the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, bringing their total contribution to $3 million.

Todd Energy’s support joins $4 million from the central government’s Regional Museum Policy fund, $500,000 from the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board: Environment and Heritage and $1 million from TSB Community Trust, bringing the total raised to date far for the construction of the Len Lye Centre to $8 million towards a $10 million goal.

The Len Lye Centre will be the new home for the care, research, preservation, display and engagement with the art and ideas of pioneer New Zealand-born modernist filmmaker and kinetic artist Len Lye (1901-1980).

New Plymouth District Mayor Harry Duynhoven said Todd Energy’s support is exceptional and one of the largest single capital contributions for the arts from the corporate sector in New Zealand.

“We are delighted and most grateful for Todd Energy’s support for this exciting project. It is an excellent example of a public and private partnership that will deliver outstanding economic and cultural benefits for the community,” said Mayor Harry Duynhoven.

John Todd, Chairman Todd Corporation, said that the contribution to the Len Lye Centre reflects the company's long-term involvement in the Taranaki region. “We are pleased to partner an innovative project that will have such a positive impact on the local community as well as being a draw card nationally and internationally. We congratulate the New Plymouth District Council (NPDC), the Len Lye Foundation and the Govett-Brewster, and we look forward to working with them to achieve this unique building and education programme.”

Govett-Brewster Art Gallery Director Rhana Devenport says that Todd Energy’s ongoing commitment to the education programme will enable the combined facility of the Len Lye Centre and the Govett-Brewster to greatly enhance its successful education programme in innovative ways.

“Todd Energy’s valuable support will enable us to deliver an expanded and inter-disciplinary education programme with relevance to science, technology, design, media studies and music, as well as art,” says Ms Devenport. “Todd Energy’s support will also contribute towards developing tool kits for the classroom, artists in schools workshops throughout Taranaki and a community connection programme to offer accessible and highly interactive programmes for Maori and Pasifika, youth, seniors, families, disabled communities and multicultural community groups.”

NPDC Chief Executive Barbara McKerrow says that this announcement now means that 80 percent of the funds towards the Len Lye Centre have been achieved. “This amount now allows us to instruct the architects to progress the detailed design to ensure that the project can be delivered on time in accordance with the timeframe set out in the Council’s Long Term Plan; the building of the Len Lye Centre is expected to begin in late 2012, with an estimated completion date of late 2014.”

The Len Lye Centre, designed by the award-winning architectural firm Patterson Associates, will be built adjacent to the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and will operate as a unique combined facility with the gallery.

The Len Lye Centre project is a collaboration between the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Zealand’s foremost contemporary art museum, its owner and operator NPDC, and the Len Lye Foundation who own the Len Lye Collection and Archive.

ENDS

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