The Government is being asked to come up with $4 million towards a HundertwasserArt Museum in Whangarei.
Whangarei District Council wants to start work next year on the building, based on design work by the late Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
Another $6 million is needed for the $14 million building.
Project manager Paul Dell says the council is hoping the centre will be eligible for Government arts and museum funding.
The proposal did not previously quality because it did not have a collection of national or regional significance, but Mr Dell says its prospects are brighter now the entire ground floor is to feature work by the country's top Maori artists.
