A government task force is deciding the future of Darwin's flagship art gallery building - and it could become a mixed-use office block instead.

The $145 million State Square Building was designed to showcase one of Australia's most important art collections, held by the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT (MAGNT), and has been purpose-built with two large gallery spaces.

But costs have blown out by $100 million, according to Northern Territory Arts Minister Jinson Charls, who said the project lacked a business case and operational funding.

Turning the gallery into an office block instead would be a depressing outcome, said NT Labor's arts spokesman Chansey Paech.

"It's incredibly disrespectful and offensive to our creative community in the Northern Territory," he said.

"You've got a gov

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