Trucks bring Real Art Roadshow to city

Trucks and art might seem an unusual mix, but the two have joined forces for the Real Art Roadshow, now on display at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery.

More than 60 New Zealand artworks are housed in two custom-made, $460,000 trucks that tour the country each year.

The roadshow spent most of its time visiting secondary schools throughout the country.

Southland Museum and Art Gallery education and visitor services co-ordinator Colin Anderson said the museum jumped at the opportunity to host the roadshow's silver collection during the school holidays.

"It's real top-class art. Usually, it's just for high school students, but this is an opportunity for the public to see something a bit different," Mr Anderson said.

Christchurch man Warwick Snow, who drove the truck to Invercargill, said responses from the public were generally the same.

"It's always pretty awesome to them. Really, what can you say?"

Mr Snow said working for the roadshow had stimulated his interest in art.

"I never used to be interested in it. I didn't really give art the time of day, to be honest. But now that I know a bit more about it, I'm a bit more interested," he said.

The collections were the brainchild of Wanaka woman Fiona Campbell, an early investor in Trade Me.

The artwork in the silver collection, owned by the Real Art Charitable Trust, was worth more than $1 million, Mr Snow said.

Mr Anderson said a lot of time and money had been put into forming the collection.

"There's been a lot of time put into researching which pieces to purchase. It's a fantastic setup," he said.

It did not cost schools anything to host the roadshow.

Admission to the public is also free during the roadshow's time at the museum.

The roadshow will remain at the museum until April 18.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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