ALBURY Council has been blown away by the early response to the Murray Art Museum Albury with more than 6000 people visiting since opening last Friday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Visitors have continued to flow through the doors since opening day when 3600 people attended.
More than 1400 people had pre-booked to attend MAMA in the days leading up to the official opening performed by member for Farrer Sussan Ley and recently elected mayor Henk van de Ven.
MAMA director Jacqui Hemsley said visitor numbers had exceeded expectations.
“We had hoped 2000 people would visit MAMA in those first few days," she said.
"But to have 6000 visitors is a great vote of confidence.
“I want to thank each and every person who has come through the doors since MAMA opened on Friday.”
Ticket booking data showed the visitors weren't just from the region.
“We had people travel from Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney," Ms Hemsley said.
"They weren’t invited guests.
"They were people who just wanted to see MAMA.”
Entry to MAMA is free, but visitors will be charged for blockbuster exhibitions including Marilyn: Celebrating an American Icon that has been locked in for February 8 to May 12 next year.
The final cost of MAMA is still to be determined after a $324,000 blowout was confirmed in March.
The total budget for the project was $10.5 million.
But philanthropic efforts of $1.4 million exceeded the original target of $1.05 million when an anticipated $3.5 million in NSW Government funding wasn't forthcoming.
Also, Ms Ley announced a further $300,000 in federal government funding on opening day.
The Canvas Eatery restaurant fronting QEII Square is expected to open later this month.
Cr van de Ven said community support for MAMA was strong.
"Albury now has the capacity to show off blockbuster exhibitions of national and international prominence," he said.
