22 April 2016 Media Release – for immediate release
ServiceIQ 2016 New Zealand Museum Awards finalists announced
Exhibitions featuring pop artist nun and Gallipoli remade in Minecraft among 2016 New Zealand Museum Awards finalists
Creativity is the only constant in the finalists for the ServiceIQ 2016 New Zealand Museum Awards.
Exhibitions spanning everything from contraception and the legacy of Dame Margaret Sparrow to the work of a pop artist nun to a reimagining of Gallipoli in Minecraft have been selected as the projects that are in the running to win at next month’s awards.
A number of innovative public programmes have also made it into this year's finalists including an archaeological dig geared towards children in Te Awamutu and flash mobs in Wellington's Civic Square to support an art exhibition.
Museums Aotearoa Executive Director Phillipa Tocker says selecting the 33 finalists was a challenge for the judges due to the high quality and number of the entries.
“What really stood out was the depth of the talent and originality in our museums and galleries,” says Tocker.
“The sector is in a very exciting place right now, and whether you are visiting a gallery or museum in one of our major cities or you are in the regions, you will find exhibitions and programmes that challenge and entertain you and encourage you to think about the world around you in new ways.”
This year’s judging panel comprises University of Auckland’s Dr Michelle Dickinson, New Zealand Portrait Gallery acting director Helen Kedgley, Tauranga City Council’s Cultural Heritage Manager Dean Flavell and Dr Bronwyn Labrum, Head of New Zealand and Pacific Cultures at Te Papa.
“Looking at the all the exhibitions and programmes that are among the finalists, and the galleries and museums that have developed these projects, should make us all incredibly proud of the sector we have here in New Zealand,” says Tocker.
“The rich diversity of the content also shows through, which is a great sign that our museums and galleries are engaging with the diverse communities we have in this country.”
The New Zealand Museum Awards are sponsored by ServiceIQ.
“We really appreciate the continuing support of ServiceIQ, our wonderful ITO supporting workplace training in museums and across the service sector,” says Tocker. “Without their sponsorship we would not have been able to grow the awards programme to recognise the wide range of museum and gallery achievement.”
The winners will be announced on Wednesday 18 May during the inaugural Museums Australasia conference which runs from 16–18 May 2016 in Auckland.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Penelope Jackson [email protected] 027 291 6095
Level 8, 104 The Terrace PO Box 10 928, Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand tel (64 4) 499 1313 [email protected] www.museumsaotearoa.org.nz Finalists in ServiceIQ 2016 New Zealand Museum Awards
Regional Art
Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre Sister Corita's Summer of Love
MTG Hawke’s Bay Talanoa: Colloquies of the unrecognised worker
Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui The Horses Stayed Behind
Regional Social History
South Otago Museum Never A Week Goes By
Tairawhiti Museum Wm. F. Crawford: Photographic Landscape Artist
Pātaka Art + Museum We Built This City: Porirua 50 Years Young
Regional Taonga Maori
Puke Ariki Displaying the Motunui epa
Tēnei Tonu MTG Hawke’s Bay
Waikato Museum E Ngā uri Whakatupu – Weaving Legacies: Dame Rangimarie Hetet and Diggeress Te Kanawa
Science and Technology
Click Suite Exposed Wounds
Locales/Wellington Zoo The Barn
Otago Museum Beautiful Science Gallery
Te Manawa Museum Sunlight – Ihi Kōmaru
Level 8, 104 The Terrace PO Box 10 928, Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand tel (64 4) 499 1313 [email protected] www.museumsaotearoa.org.nz
Metropolitan Art
City Gallery Wellington Fiona Pardington: A Beautiful Hesitation
Otago Museum Intersections: Ceramics from Ralph Hotere’s Personal Collection
Auckland Art Gallery Lisa Reihana, in Pursuit of Venus [infected]
Metropolitan Social History
Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Life on the Edge: Otago Harbour Communities
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Contraception: Uncovering the collection of Dame Margaret Sparrow
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Gallipoli: The scale of our war
Auckland War Memorial Museum Taku Tāmaki
Metropolitan Taonga Maori
Dunedin Public Art Gallery Archives: Te Wāhi Pounamu
Otago Museum Hākui: Women of Kāi Tahu
ServiceIQ Best Museum Visitor Experience
Expressions Submergence
Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato For Us They Fell - Waikato WW1 Centenary Exhibition
Auckland War Memorial Museum Gallipoli in Minecraft®
Level 8, 104 The Terrace PO Box 10 928, Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand tel (64 4) 499 1313 [email protected] www.museumsaotearoa.org.nz
Most Innovative Public Programme
Auckland War Memorial Museum The Studio and Tales of Tāmaki
The Dowse Art Museum Could You? Would You?
Te Awamutu Dig It At Te Awamutu Museum
City Gallery Wellington Poi E/Thriller flash-mobs to support Candice Breitz exhibition
Best Museum Project
MTG Hawke’s Bay Pin Wall
Otago Museum Perpetual Guardian Planetarium
Pearson & Associates Kaiapoi Museum
Waitangi National Trust Te Kōngahu - The Museum of Waitangi
About Museums Aotearoa Museums Aotearoa is the professional association for New Zealand's public museums and art galleries and those who work in and support them. New Zealand museums and public galleries care for more than 40 million items relating to New Zealand’s history, culture and creativity. Generating in excess of 1000 public exhibitions and publications and attracting well over 12 million visits each year, museums and galleries are ranked as a top attraction for New Zealand's overseas visitors. New Zealand museums are actively focused on enriching their communities by enhancing the quality of their facilities, collections, programmes, products and services. www.museumsaotearoa.org.nz
About ServiceIQ ServiceIQ is the industry training organisation (ITO) for the aviation, hospitality, retail, travel, tourism, museums and wholesale sectors. We’re all about empowering and motivating people to provide great service. This helps businesses remain competitive and New Zealand to be internationally recognised as a great place to live or visit. It also gives people working in our industries valuable skills and knowledge along with nationally recognised qualifications. www.ServiceIQ.org.nz
Level 8, 104 The Terrace PO Box 10 928, Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand tel (64 4) 499 1313 [email protected] www.museumsaotearoa.org.nz