Our History

Birth of a Gallery

The 'Dowse' name comes from the late Mary Dowse, wife of a former Mayor of Lower Hutt, Percy Dowse. Mary championed the idea of an art gallery for the people of Lower Hutt. Sadly neither Mary nor Percy lived to see The Dowse Art Gallery open in 1971. Mary was killed in an accident in 1964 and Percy died just months before the opening. The original galleries, always intended as the first stage in a larger art gallery and museum 'cluster', is the area now known as the Wallace Wing. During the 1970s The Dowse Art Gallery established a strong reputation as a regional art gallery, under directors David Millar and Jim Barr.

Growth at The Dowse

This changed, along with the name, in the 1980s with the arrival of the third director, James Mack. Mack inherited an extended building, which now included a new 'museum wing' to the north (now the Silbery Longrun Gallery, James Coe Centre and Pataka Toi). Under his leadership The Dowse Art Museum shifted its focus to play a national leadership role in the development and celebration of New Zealand's decorative arts. At the same time, the 1850s carved Pataka (storehouse) Nuku Tewhatewha was gifted to the city, to be cared for as part of The Dowse Art Museum collection. It remains the most significant taonga (treasure) in our care. Infrastructure and collection management procedures were strengthened under the leadership of fourth director, Bob Maysmor.

A New Era

With the appointment of Tim Walker as director in 1998 came another shift in direction and name. Building on our strong focus on the decorative arts, our programmes opened up to engage and stimulate a wider range of visitors. Ranging from art to design, fashion to hip hop, and photography to youth entrepreneurship, we developed a diverse range of exhibitions that have provided the basis for becoming New Zealand's most active touring exhibition organiser. In September 2005, The Dowse closed its doors for a major building redevelopment. The relaunch of the new building in February 2007 saw the birth of TheNewDowse.

Now And Ahead

Athfield Architects' design for TheNewDowse includes over 60% more exhibition space, multipurpose indoor & outdoor facilities, and a spectacular cafe and destination store. The exciting array of exhibitions and events are shaped to bring you the very best in New Zealand and international creativity and innovation - from ceramics to cybernetics, fine art to family fun - there will be something for everyone. New director Cam McCracken joins us in 2009 and so the story continues...