Tauranga Art Gallery visitors have receive a harsh criticism, accused of remaining tightwads after it was learnt that the art gallery’s donations average about a dollar.

Supporters to the art gallery have been excessively tightfisted, and since the expectation is that a visitor does not need to give more, but just a gold coin after a visit, it has ended up making the art gallery to have a deficit of a staggering $187,000, which is$50,000 more than the loss experienced last year.

While visitors lack in generosity has been cited as a major setback for the gallery, it has also been short of the visitor target it had anticipated, about 60,000 annually to about 30 June. The gallery finished with 20% less at 47,500 and fewer than anticipated.

The annual report of the gallery showed that even second largest source of revenue, grants, sponsorships and donations, hit below target at $16,400. The revenue stood at $123,600, less than last years, which was $35,500.

The art gallery is in a race to change the mindset of people from being tightwads, yet they really get value for their money. Penelope Jackson, the Director agreed, “It will take time for people to realize the value they get” since they are quite tight.

The bulk of the revenue going to the gallery was from the council, at 78% of its annual income, at 847, 400 dollars. Other revenue components went below the budget mark of $152,500, $34, 000 less.

However, the art gallery, which is just three years old, is saying that school holiday and visit programs are very popular as it starts to offer exhibitions to galleries located in the city.

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