George Fraser Gallery exhibition records

In 1983 The Frank Sargeson Trust was fromed by Dame Christine Cole Catley, Frank Sargeson's heir and executor, with the aim of continuing Sargeson's lifelong generosity to writers through providing residential fellowships. Partnering with The Auckland City Art Gallery the Trust converted the old stables on Princes Street which opened in 1987 as a part of Artspace with the Sargeson Space flat upstairs and the George Fraser Gallery downstairs. The gallery was named after a former executive director of Fletcher Challenge who was the fund-raising chairman of the Frank Sargeson Trust.

In 1993, Elam School of Fine Arts took over the administration of the Gallery. Since then the space has primarily been dedicated to the exhibition and promotion of student work, with an emphasis on new developments in contemporary art and works which are experimental in nature.

Despite the shift in focus to Elam, artists from the wider community continued to be represented in shows, alongside the regular Staff Shows and the Artist in Residence program.