About Ramp Gallery

Ramp Gallery was established in 1997 as a contemporary art space in the Department of Media Arts at the Waikato Institute of Technology (then Waikato Polytechnic). It has maintained a commitment to contemporary New Zealand art throughout its history. Ramp has presented exhibitions by several of New Zealand's leading contemporary artists, including: Julian Dashper, Daniel Malone, Jim Allen, David Clegg, Fiona Amundsen, Ronnie Van Hout, Violet Faigan and Ann Shelton.

Ramp's programme has always sought to present contemporary practices from a range of media. It seeks to foster critical discussion about contemporary art and provide a venue for innovative work. Ramp is currently seeking to expand its operations to include relationships with other tertiary spaces, artist residencies, artist talks, a publications profile and web-based projects.

Policy Statement

RAMP Gallery aims to foster critical dialogue and current practices in art.

Policy:

RAMP Gallery will provide a programme that explores contemporary issues in art. It aims to maintain high artistic, academic and research standards throughout its activities.

As part of the Media Arts department at the Waikato Institute of Technology, RAMP acknowledges its educational function. To this end, the programme will be determined according to the perceived needs of Media Arts students and will reflect the priorities of the degree programme. It will also reflect the needs of Media Arts staff carrying out active research.

RAMP seeks to establish relationships with like-minded institutions both in New Zealand and abroad. When appropriate, it aims to share its exhibitions and develop active partnerships with those institutions to ensure that RAMP has a national profile as a gallery committed to contemporary art. The aim of these partnerships is to create an environment that ensures RAMP can deliver a diverse programme that Media Arts students and the broader art community can engage with.

RAMP will present eight to ten exhibitions per year. These will fall primarily during teaching semesters, to ensure that students have the best possible opportunity to engage with the exhibitions. In addition to exhibitions by individuals, RAMP will from time to time present curator's projects, produce publications and provide facilities for artist residencies and artist talks. This will ensure that RAMP is seen as a forum for dialogue as well as an exhibition venue. The RAMP programme will be determined by a committee made up of Media Arts staff.

A distinction is made between RAMP's activities and those of W Block Gallery, which is available for the presentation of student and staff work. While students and staff are not excluded from presenting work in RAMP, they will not have any priority in terms of selection.

RAMP Gallery is generously supported by the Waikato Institute of Technology, Gouda Cheese Shop and Primo Vino.