Snaps Gallery records

Snaps Gallery was established in December, 1975 by Glen Busch, in a small historic cottage on Airedale Street. The intention was to create a space solely focused on the art of photography, and for many years Snaps remained the only photographic specific exhibition space in Auckland. Murray Cammick took over the running of the gallery and in 1978 administration of the space fell to Gillian Chaplin, a MFA student at Elam School of Fine Arts.

During 1977 the Gallery combined with Photo-Forum Inc. to form The Auckland Centre of Photography; combining their resources they jointly applied for Arts Council funding to continue opperation.

In 1979 rising rental costs forced the gallery to move to new premises in Federal Street called The Schoolhouse. After a six month hiatus for renovations the gallery re-opened in June, 1979.

Gillian Chaplin resigned from her role of gallery co-ordinator in 1981 to pursue her own photographic work. Although there were plenty of people willing to help out in the gallery no one could be found to shoulder the responsibility of organising and co-ordinating exhibitions.

Consequently the decision was made to close the gallery in March, 1981.