ISSN 1177-7362 QUARTERLY museums aotearoa

june 2009 museums aotearoa quarterly

Contents

3: ED’s quarter MUSEUMS AOTEAROA ~ 4: Policy matters Te Tari o Nga Whare Taonga o te Motu is New Zealand’s independent peak pro- 6: Notes from the May fessional organisation for museums and MA Board meeting those who work in, or have an interest in, museums. Members include museums, Staff moves public art galleries, historical societies, 7: Websites for information & science centres, people who work within these institutions, and individuals inspiration connected or associated with arts, 8: ICOM’s annual meetings culture and heritage in New Zealand. Our vision is to raise the profi le, strengthen 10: Kaitiaki hui in Gisborne the performance, and increase the value of museums and galleries to their stakeholders and the community.

11: Empire - 8th Symposium of STAFF New Zealand Costume Executive Director: Phillipa Tocker Textile Association Financial Manager: Gina Lumplecker Offi ce Manager: Fiona King 12: Operation valour CONTACT DETAILS 13: International Museums Day Level 8, 104 The Terrace, Wellington 6011 at Whangarei Art Museum PO Box 10-928, Wellington 6143 tel: 04 499 1313 14: My favourite thing fax: 04 499 6313 email: [email protected] 15: MA Associate profi le - web: www.museums-aotearoa.org.nz Micrographic Services ADVERTISING Enquiries about advertising in this publication or mailing fl yers with it should be addressed FRONT COVER - clockwise from top left to the Museums Aotearoa offi ce. Josephine Hughes of Hawke’s Bay Museum & Art Gallery ‘Jigsaw’ project from New Zealand Micrographics DISCLAIMER The Three Eldest Children of King Charles I, c1635 - The opinions expressed in this publication are not from NZ Portrait Gallery necessarily those of the Editor or of Museums Aotearoa. ASIA:NZ Foundation logo june 2009

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ED’s quarter

WINTER GLOOM LOCAL GOVERNMENT Getting up this morning in the dark, it still wasn’t light The pressure of the economic downturn has been felt when I left home, and it will be dark again before I get during the latest local government planning round. Most back. Wistfully, I thought of Josephine Hughes of Hawke’s councils have seen increased numbers of public sub- Bay Museum & Art Gallery, currently on the Attingham missions, and all have struggled to keep rates increases Summer School in the UK as part of the Clark Collection / close to the level of infl ation. This has often meant fro- Creative NZ Scholarship. zen or even reduced grants to museums and art galleries. Museums Aotearoa made submissions to several councils, And while some here are suffering the usual winter coughs at least some of which seem to have had a positive effect. and colds, the ‘swine fl u’ is spreading through the country. For more on local/central government issues, see Policy In Wellington we apparently have a high number of cases Matters, page 4. but it has not (yet) reached the Museums Aotearoa offi ce. If your museum or gallery has been affected we’d like to SECTOR STATISTICS hear from you. The Ministry of Health has a new web page Our annual museum sector barometer survey was con- with updates and lots of useful information at www.moh. ducted in February, and some fi ndings noted in the April govt.nz/infl uenza-a-h1n1. MAQ. The full report prepared by NZTRI is now com- plete and downloadable from our website. We especially The economic downturn continues to bite along with the thank all the museum staff who participated, fi nding the southerly weather. Like the winter, we knew that the lean information necessary to enable us to gather this infor- times were coming, and hopefully made some prepara- mation together. I hope you will fi nd it useful in situating tions. It does mean that we have to be innovative in our your own museum in the wider context of the sector. We approaches and work harder to get adequate resources will be using the information as evidence to educate and to maintain museum services and programmes. In some advocate for our museums and art galleries especially at museums the number of exhibitions has been reduced or central government level. projects postponed, and in others new partnerships have been forged to bring in extra resources.

The latest tourism data suggests that although tour- In September we will begin work on the next annual sur- ist numbers are down in general, it is not all doom and vey, to run in February 2010. We are also working on de- gloom*. While demand has fallen, and is expected to fall veloping other research and information, including salaries further, tourism businesses are ‘mildly optimistic about benchmarking and visitor statistics. I invite your sugges- demand from the domestic and Australian markets’. This is tions for making this work easier and more relevant to an opportunity for museums and galleries to look carefully your needs. at their audiences, and especially to engage and activate local communities. Phillipa Tocker Executive Director Arts organisations and invited experts shared ideas and * Tourism Industry Monitor, June 2009, full report at www.tourismresearch. advice on audience development at Creative NZ’s 21st govt.nz/Data--Analysis/Key-Statistics/Tourism-Industry-Monitor century arts conference in Wellington last week. The fo- cus was on knowing your audience(s) and what it is that you are offering them. Presentations and resources from the 2008 conference are on CNZ’s website (under Initia- ASIA:NZ MUSEUM AWARD 2009 tives) and I understand this year’s will be added soon. A reminder that applications for two opportunities provided by ASIA:NZ & MA An unexpected bonus for those lucky enough to be in close in July. Wellington last week was a fl ying visit by Donna Wil- liams, Audience Development Offi cer at New York’s Met- • A six week placement with the Asian ropolitan Museum of Art. Invited by Wallis Barnicoat of Civilisations Museum in Singapore, closes Whanganui Regional Museum, her brief visit included an 17th July 2009 inspiring presentation at Te Papa. For those who missed • Project funding for Asian focused museum or gallery project, closes 31st July 2009 it, hear the podcast at http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/TePapa/ English/NationalServices/Resources/Presentations/Donna see our website for details

+Williams+presentation.htm june 2009 3 museums aotearoa quarterly

Policy matters

With our new government beginning to make some seri- DEFENCE REVIEW ous changes to the way we do things in New Zealand, A consultation document has been released for a Defence policy matters more than ever. Review. This will cover all aspects of NZ’s security and de- fence including the service museums, and could potentially We had nine years of relatively consistent direction under have implications for broader principles of government the Labour Party. Now National is facing the task of ad- funding for the museum sector. At present, the service dressing their pre-election promises in the light of the cur- museums (Army, Navy and Air Force), the Police Museum rent economic climate, taking into account the tempering and Te Papa are the only museums directly funded by cen- effect of what is actually possible: making statements in tral government. The Film Archive is also funded through opposition is quite a different matter from making changes MCH, and some other government departments have mu- to the status quo. seum or gallery functions such as the National Library In the Speech from the Throne in December 2008, the Gallery and some DoC properties. A review of the roles government outlined several priority areas including: and relationships of the service museums could put the • growing the economy; spotlight on some of these others, and lead to questions • investment in infrastructure; of how central government funding fi nds its way to vari- • a reduction in government bureaucracy in favour of ous museum organisations and not to others. frontline services; and MINISTRY FOR CULTURE AND HERITAGE • reducing regulatory and compliance demands that Immediately following the election, I met with our new get in the way on productivity growth. Minister, Hon Chris Finlayson, in December 2008. MA has They have now begun a wide range of reviews and legisla- followed this up with correspondence and another meet- tive reform. And while some of these reviews and reforms ing in June 2009. The Minister is engaged, well-informed, may not seem relevant to museums and galleries, many and very aware of the issues facing the sector, especially proposed changes are interrelated, and may have signifi - the funding and policy anomalies that support some parts cant fl ow-on effects. So it is up to all of us to ensure that of our national collections and leave others to rely on

the government hears our views on all matters that may local, charitable and commercial funding. We are pursuing affect the museum sector. these issues as identifi ed in the Museum Sector Strategy. LOCAL GOVERNMENT There has recently been a review of National Services Te The Minister for Local Government and Regulatory Re- Paerangi conducted by the Ministry, the Minister has pub- form, Hon Rodney Hide, has been making the news lately licly stated his support for the NZ Portrait Gallery, and he with his call for councils to concentrate on ‘core services’. is also interested in the wider framework of funding from central government. I will be meeting the new CE of MCH, The defi nition of core services seems to be open for de- Lewis Holden, in early July, and we will continue to work bate, and the Minister has already had to backtrack on actively with the Minister and the Ministry. his hard-line restriction of core services to “transport services (roading, footpaths, and public transport); water CULTURE AND IDENTITY STATISTICS services (water supply, sewage treatment, stormwater Statistics NZ is reviewing information needs for the moni- and fl ood protection) and public health and safety serv- toring and measurement of issues of culture and identity ices (refuse collection and regulation of nuisances)”: he of the New Zealand population. A draft domain plan is has since acknowledged that perhaps libraries are also the available for public feedback until 14 August 2009, and in- responsibility of local government. cludes a stocktake of existing data sources for culture and identity statistics, gaps in those data sources, and possible In signalling his intention to improve transparency and ac- directions for future statistical development over the next countability in local government, the Minister notes that fi ve to ten years. he does not intend putting this out to public consultation, but that ‘targeted consultation will be undertaken’. MA Feedback is specifi cally sought on: is keeping a close watch, and we are working with Local • key information needs for government agencies, Government NZ and others to ensure that our voice will researchers, businesses and the broader community be heard when the opportunity arises – which may be at • priorities for statistical development and/or further the Select Committee stage. research june 2009 4 museums aotearoa quarterly

• the adequacy and comprehensiveness of existing data sources for culture and identity statistics As part of our work on research and information for the museum sector, MA will be making a submission on this review – members’ input is invited. CULTURAL TOURISM AND ‘RWC’ You will see the acronym RWC more and more as we get closer to the Rugby World Cup. Auckland City’s website www.auckland2011.com is counting down the days to the second – only 802 to go as I write this. Many museums have already made plans as part of bids for games their lo- cal councils. MA is working with MCH, NSTP and Tourism NZ to facilitate collaborative efforts to make the most of the opportunities that RWC presents. With the eyes of the world on NZ for 44 days, there will be visitors and media looking for other activities, experiences and entertainment as well as rugby – museums and art gal- leries will be a showcase for New Zealand’s arts, culture and heritage. We will bring you more information as plans develop.

Phillipa Tocker Hon Chris Finlayson, Minister of Arts, Culture & Heritage Executive Director at Te Papa, June 2009.

Consultations & Submissions

REVIEW OF CULTURE AND IDENTITY ROAD SIGNAGE STATISTICS Review of the Traffi c Control Devices Manual (part 2) Closes 14th August which covers tourist signs including the brown ‘museum’ www.stats.govt.nz/people/review-of-culture-and-identity- signs. Closes 17 July (comments towards MA submission statistics/default by 14 July). www.nzta.govt.nz/consultation/index.html. LOCAL GOVERNMENT ISSUES Rodney Hide’s cabinet paper: GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Resource-ma- The Government has announced it will be holding public terial-Our-Policy-Advice-Areas-Improving-Local-Govern- meetings, meetings with business groups, and hui on New ment-Transparency-Accountability-and-Fiscal-Manage- Zealand’s 2020 greenhouse gas emissions target in July ment-Cabinet-Paper-(April-2009)?OpenDocument 2009. www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=30265 DEFENCE REVIEW A consultation document has been released for the 2009 BRIEFING FOR INCOMING MINISTER Defence Review, covering all aspects of defence including The information provided to the new government in the service museums, and potentially have implications for November 2008 by the various departments and organi- broader principles of government funding for the museum sations under the Ministry for Culture & Heritage can be sector. Closes 24 August. downloaded at: www.defence.govt.nz www.beehive.govt.nz/release/chris+fi nlayson+release+holding june 2009

5 museums aotearoa quarterly

Notes from the May MA Board meeting

People As this was the fi rst meeting following the Annual General Meeting in Gisborne in April, new board members Greg STAFF MOVES McManus and Michelle Hippolite were welcomed. Lesley David Reeves has been appointed to the Re- Colsell, who became Chair in 2008 was re-elected in the search Access role and Ronald Milne has been role and Bill McNaught (by telephone) agreed to contin- appointed to the Research Collections at the ue as Deputy Chair. Following the Kaitiaki Maori hui at Alexander Turnbull Library, both begin in mid- Gisborne, Manu Kawana, Kaihautu at Te Manawa will join September. Laureen Sadlier at Museums Aotearoa Board meetings. Mark Donovan has taken up the role of Projects Experience Group Director at Te Papa Ton- The three key projects for the forthcoming year were garewa. Before joining Te Papa he was Senior confi rmed as: Director for Exhibits and Design at the National 1. Distributed National Collection (Nga Taonga) Aquarium Institute in Baltimore, USA. A one page summary will be produced to facilitate con- tinuing support for the project. Rhoda Fowler is the new Senior Curator, Art, at Te Papa. 2. Professional Standards and Development Education, including tertiary programmes at The Universi- City Gallery Wellington has appointed Stasi ty of Auckland, Auckland University of Technology, Massey Turnbull as Marketing & Communications University and Victoria University of Wellington. Manager. 3. Museum Sector Research Libby Sharpe has been appointed as the Arts, Recently completed was the third barometer on-line survey of Culture and Heritage Manager for the South the sector to provide a snap shot of critical issues infl uencing the Taranaki District Council. museum sector. This year the special focus was on collections.

Publications Compiling the MA 2009 Directory will be used as an op- A restructure at Wellington Museums Trust sees portunity to gather information about the staffi ng and the appointment of Mark Hundal as Commer- operational environment for museums nationally. A 2009 cial Manager for all the Trust museums and Brett issue of Te Ara is nearly complete. Mason as Director Museums Wellington, with re- sponsibility for the Museum of Wellington, Cable Profi le Car Museum and Colonial Cottage. Michelle Hippolite spoke to the revision of the 2006 Mem- orandum of Understanding between Museums Aotearoa and National Services Te Paerangi. This was with a view Left to right: Brett Mason, Mark Hundal and Pat Stuart, Chief to developing the profi le of National Services in managing Executive of Wellington Museums Trust the Standards Scheme for New Zealand Museums Nga Kaupapa Whaimana o Nga Whare Taonga o Aotearoa and the role for Museums Aotearoa in accreditation of both individuals and museums. Ministry for Culture and Herit- age is undertaking a review of National Services Te Paerangi, for which Terms of Reference have been drafted. Planning Conference planning was begun with a discussion of themes to be canvassed through a direct email to the membership.

Linda Tyler MA Board Member june 2009

6 museums aotearoa quarterly

Websites for information & inspiration

COMMUNICATION FRIENDLY MUSEUMS PANDEMIC PREPARATION A UK publication which links the National Literacy Our recent e-Notices urged everyone to prepare Trust’s ‘Talk to Your Baby’ campaign with museum for a possible ‘fl u pandemic. This could be as sim- programmes in Stoke-on-Trent to engage actively ple as talking with staff and volunteers about what with pre-schoolers and their families. Download might happen if they or their family members are at www.stokemuseums.org.uk or ask the MA of- ill, especially several at a time. For larger organisa- fi ce for a copy. tions there will be some more preparation you can do such as preparing for possible closure, notify- AUSTRALIAN POLICY ONLINE ing booked groups, and postponing events such as Edited by the Institute for Social Research, Swin- openings. The Ministry of Health has guidelines and burne University of Technology, this is a web portal links to a range of resources for individuals and to valuable resources. e.g. Developing and revitalizing businesses: rural communities through arts and creativity: Australia, web: www.moh.govt.nz/infl uenza-a-h1n1 a chapter by Kim Dunphy of the Cultural Develop- ment Network in Australia as part of an international research report investigating the revitalisation of rural communities through arts and culture. http://apo.org.au/node/17496

TE AO HOU The National Library has digitised the entire run of Te Ao Hou, published from 1952 to 1976 by the Maori Affairs Department. According to its fi rst editorial, Te Ao Hou aimed “to provide interesting and informative reading for Maori homes … like a marae on paper, where all questions of interest to TechSoup offers a way for not-for-profi t the Maori can be discussed.” It contains fascinat- organisations with charitable status to access ing articles of history and social activity, news, book Microsoft® software. and record reviews, and gems of original writing well such well-known names as Witi Ihimaera, Pat- Software is donated with an administration fee of rica Grace and others. There is even a crossword 4% of the normal retail price. For example Micro- in te reo, with clues in English. soft® Offi ce Professional Plus 2007 is just $27, plus http://teaohou.natlib.govt.nz/journals/teaohou/in- GST! There are criteria about eligibility, size and fre- dex.html quency of orders fully set out on the website.

MUSEUMS AOTEAROA www.techsoup.net.nz Don’t forget our own website. Look under Pub- lications for the latest Museum Sector Barometer MA has painlessly and successfully signed up - why don’t you! report. web: www.museums-aotearoa.org.nz june 2009

7 museums aotearoa quarterly

ICOM’s annual meetings

The World Museum Community refl ects on solutions to escape KEYNOTE SPEAKERS the economic crisis. Jacques Attali – Author and President of PlaNet Finance. James Chung – Consultant, President of Reach Advisors. The International Council of Museums (ICOM) held its Annual June Meetings in Paris from 8 to 11 June 2009. Mu- INTRODUCTION BY ALAN RIDING: seum representatives and museum professionals from all Is the crisis a catastrophe for museums? There is no more over the world spent 3 days of intensive meetings refl ect- funding; this is the end of a Golden Age of ambitious build- ing a revival of the organization, which initiated a refl ec- ings made by famous architects; this is the end of block- tion on the impact of the fi nancial crisis on museums as buster shows. The situation with negative impacts is am- well as their future. plifi ed by structural changes (internet, new behaviours for the young population, etc.). But the current crisis offers ICOM FUTURE FOCUS new opportunities for museums as well, refocusing on In 2010, ICOM will reinforce its presence in several areas their initial inspirational and “spiritual” role. of the world. First, in Asia, where two major events will be organized both in Shanghai: ICOM’s presence at the Uni- INTERVENTION OF JACQUES ATTALI: versal Exhibition from May to November 2010 followed History tells us that the decline in private wealth brings by ICOM 2010 General Conference which will take place about the birth of the development public wealth. The in November 2010, Second, in the Middle East, develop- development of museums is linked to two phenomena: ment was intensifi ed this year, with the creation of the promotion of a national identity and development of cul- ICOM United Arab Emirates Committee. Third, the Latin ture in fading economies and powers. Today’s crisis will American focus: during the meetings, Rio de Janeiro was be long. elected to be the host city of ICOM 2013 General Con- ference. The crisis is American, this nation is living a major bank- ruptcy of its economy with a destabilised banking system, ICOM will also seek to amplify its previous activities in private fortunes endangered and a breathtaking national the fi ght against illicit traffi c (by introducing new Red Lists debt. The consequences for museums are a major drop

of cultural property in danger in 2010), programs in the in private sponsorship, a state unable to fi nance museums event of emergency situations and general sharing of ideas (budget defi cit) and new priorities for private sponsorship for best practices and code of ethics. (individual or corporate): more investments for environ- mental and social projects, less investments for sport and For the fi rst time, and confi rming the role of ICOM, a dis- culture. cussion was launched aimed at the heart of the problems for museums on the theme “What is the global economic The crisis is the consequence of a major paradox with crisis changing for museums?” Here, Jacques Attali, au- an increasingly global economy and the absence of glo- thor and President of PlanetNet Finance as well as James bal regulation of the exchanges, provoking national and Chung, forecaster and President of Reach Advisors be- individual protectionism. The end of the crisis necessitates came involved. This discussion is summarised below. governance on a global scale. Museums must learn to think on a global scale, as ICOM does. Julien Anfruns, Director General of ICOM, adds that “The exchanges of these General Annual Meetings were intense and The crisis is the result of an historical trend over the long constructive. Thanks to this discussion of experts like Jacques run with a shift in the geographical spheres of growth. Attali and James Chung, ICOM and its members profi t from Growth has always been based on four prerequisites: external visions which open new perspectives to the world mu- growth of population, development of innovation, devel- seum community.” opment of the banking system, political stability and order. Today, the growth is met more and more in Asia, India, SUMMARY OF THE DISCUSSION Brazil and in Africa rather than in Western economies. WHAT THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS IS CHANGING FOR MUSEUMS General consequences of the current crisis for museums: 9th June 2009 – UNESCO, Paris Moderator: Alan Riding, former European Cultural corre- spondent for The New York Times. june 2009

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TREND 1: MORE MUSEUMS FOR MORE How can we foresee the consequences of the current crisis? ASSERTIVE NATIONS Lessons of the Japanese fi nancial crisis in the 90’s can only New nations develop new museums. New elites, new mid- be partially transposed to the American situation. The role dle classes, new fi nancing capabilities, new ambitions and played by private investment is very different. the will for promoting national identities appear. New roles to be found for museums in order for them TREND 2: NEW ROLES AND to secure their funding. For example, responding to the NEW PUBLICS FOR MUSEUMS demands of new social and economic categories (and not New collective and individual identities intensify the devel- only the 1% of the population which commands 25% of opment of ideas and exchanges. New populations for mu- the national resources in the USA, and has been the most seums will grow, for example healthy senior age categories important source of funding their so far). (aged more than 65/75 years old). Women’s demographic part in the American society repo- TREND 3: NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR sitions them at a higher educational level and of stronger MUSEUMS income: will they be the instrument of a new growth for The Green Architecture: museums will have to adjust to museums? these new trends and be at the forefront in the defence of the environment (carbon assessment, transportation rules Will the retired and baby boomers in the Western World for cultural goods, use of energy in buildings, etc.). New (1/5 part of the population in the USA to a 1/3 part of the consumption models appear in museums: internet, RFID, population in Italy, Germany and Japan) help to fi nance 3D, holograms, virtual visits, shops, etc. museums by their new leisure-oriented way of life or will the burden of their pensions endanger public funding for The current crisis brings new challenges for the muse- museums? ums such as ecology, free access to culture and commit- ment for visitors for greater meaning. Does tomorrow’s

museum mean a return to the “living museum” of the 19th TOWARDS A NEW GOLDEN AGE FOR century: a place for creativity and expression, a workshop, MUSEUMS? a space for live events and social networking? The crisis Yes, if museums adapt to new demands and behaviours will end one day, but museums will remain real whatever (women, young people, senior visitors etc.) Must muse- happens. ums adapt and reinvent themselves in order to serve, in a more creative and effi cient way, new requests from new INTERVENTION OF JAMES CHUNG: publics? In the current context of crisis where one can witness the disappearance of the biggest companies in the world, Yes, if museums understand what brings visitors to them which trends can change the way museums are function- in the current crisis. Visitors who are more citizens driven ing? by their search for meaning than consumers eager to fi nd status and luxury. SITUATION OF NORTH AMERICAN MUSEUMS. ICOM Paris There is a drastic drop in private funding for museums press release – 19 June 2009 (90% of funding). But some positive aspects are brought by web: www.icom.museum the crisis, among which is the increase of the number of local visitors and subscriptions. Some museums are more resilient than others: museums for children are more re- sistant than great art and history museums. Current major consequences are visible with redundan- cies in museums. Very few museums, if any, are thinking about how the crisis can play a role in museum manage- ment. Will we see some museums closing in 2010? june 2009

9 museums aotearoa quarterly

Kaitiaki hui in Gisborne

E ngä mana, e ngä reo, e ngä pätaka korero o te motu, In addition, Michelle Hippolite (Kaihautu Te Papa) also tënä ra tätou katoa. joined the MA Board and is keen to strengthen the po- sition of Kaitiaki Maori by helping with the communica- This year’s Kaitiaki Maori hui was held on 15 April, the tion of key messages to Museum Directors to help garner non-conference workshop day of the Museums Aotearoa their support for Kaitiaki Maori. annual conference, in Gisborne. It was attended by twen- ty-fi ve participants who were eager to see this forum This tied in nicely with discussions about a communica- develop into an opportunity for Kaitiaki Maori to share tions strategy, and various existing website models were case studies, give presentations, and to discuss and gain shared with the group as examples of how such tools feedback from their peers, as well as being a time to share could help Kaitiaki Maori share its mission and vision, to issues and challenges. network and keep informed of news, to hear about pro- fessional training opportunities, and future hui and events. After confi rming the minutes from last year’s hui, Rhonda Websites can also be used by Board representatives want- Paku (Manager Iwi Development, NSTP) started the ball ing to get feedback from the group on matters as they rolling with a Power Point presentation to share the re- arise. Attendees were very keen for some of these ideas sults from the Kaitiaki Maori Survey conducted by NSTP to be explored further. in September 2008. The results highlighted interesting trends in terms of the career path most commonly trav- So in all, an interesting hui with lots of valuable feedback. elled by Kaitiaki Maori entering the museum sector, their Be sure not to miss the next one (in New Plymouth, level of qualifi cation, and the length of time they remain in 2010), and get yourself onto the database quickly if you the sector. haven’t been in the ‘loop’ of emails and notices lately. Email [email protected] to subscribe. Of the total respondents (51), almost half (or 22 respond- ents) came to work in museums from the tertiary sector, Rhonda Paku while the number of respondents holding a tertiary quali- Manager Iwi Development fi cation was 60.7%, or 30 of the respondents. The average National Services Te Paerangi - Te Papa

length of time that respondents have worked in the sector is 8.7 years, while 22% (or 11 respondents) have been in the sector for 16 to 20 years! Interesting stuff? Defi - nitely, and the results will be sent out to all Kaitiaki Maori on the database very soon. To have your details added to the Kaitiaki Maori database, please contact Rhonda on [email protected], or call freephone 0508 678 743. There was also discussion about the potential involvement MA10 of kaumatua to provide advice, and to guide this group as they have done in the past. Most agreed that this would museums aotearoa be invaluable but, recognised the sometimes sensitive, or operational, nature of discussions that are held in this fo- annual conference rum. While no decision was made about how to proceed, further discussion is likely at the next meeting. New Plymouth The current Kaitiaki Maori representative on the MA Board, Laureen Sadlier (Registrar, Museum of Wellington), asked for nominations for the Bicultural Chair of the Mu- 14 - 16 April 2010 seum Training Council, and for further interest from any- one who might be willing to share the role on the Board with her. No names were forthcoming from this hui, but at a subsequent meeting with him, Manu Kawana (Kaihautu, Te Manawa) volunteered to assist Laureen on the Board and to share this role. Thank you Manu! june 2009

10 museums aotearoa quarterly

Empire - 8th Symposium of New Zealand Costume Textile Association

On Queen’s Birthday weekend 2009, Hawke’s Bay Muse- presented by Patricia Te Arapo Wallace Ph.D, a research As- um and Art Gallery played host to over 100 members and sociate at the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacifi c Studies, supporters of the Costume and Textiles Association of University of Canterbury. Later in the morning Rosemary New Zealand for the organisation’s 8th annual symposium. McLeod gave the second keynote presentation, discussing The symposium featured two full days of presentations by how themes of empire were drawn into the public eye in twenty speakers from around New Zealand and Australia, the 1930s, 40s and 50s through the women’s magazines of as well as keynote addresses by award-winning journalist the period, particularly using domestic hand-craft patterns. Rosemary McLeod and Louis Le Vaillant, the director and Her witty and charming delivery, accompanied by some of curator of The Johnston Collection, Melbourne. the highlights of her personal collection of royalty-themed handcrafts, made for an entertaining address. The New Zealand Costume & Textile Association is a na- tional organisation that was established in 2002 to foster The Empire symposium concluded, appropriately, on the the study, research and conservation of costume and tex- Queen’s Birthday public holiday with two fl oortalks in cur- tiles. A signifi cant role of the organisation is to hold this rent HBMAG exhibitions. The fi rst, by textile artist Clare annual symposium to provide a high level and professional Plug who also presented earlier in the weekend, focussed platform to present current research on all aspects of cos- on her new exhibition Look South – the culmination of tume and textiles. Academics, curators and researchers her Antarctica New Zealand / Creative New Zealand Fel- from across New Zealand look to the event as a valuable lowship in 2006. Following this Douglas Lloyd Jenkins opportunity to present their work and gather to share wound up the weekend’s events with a discussion about ideas, developments and concerns surrounding costume the history and role that the Empire continues to hold in and textiles. New Zealand culture. This year’s symposium was launched on Friday the 30th Feedback on the Empire symposium has been overwhelm- of May with the opening of a new exhibition, Last, Loneli- ingly positive, with both delegates and presenters com- est, Loveliest, curated by HBMAG Director Douglas Lloyd menting on the great value that this annual event offers.

Jenkins. This exhibition, which explores connections be- Opportunities to present ongoing research in a context tween New Zealand and the British Empire through the which is informed, specialised and rigorous are rare in collection of the Hawke’s Bay Cultural Trust, was a fi tting New Zealand, and the commitment that the Costume way to welcome delegates and presenters to Hawke’s Bay and Textiles Association makes to providing this is very and just a taste of what was to come over the course of valuable to the sector. A venue and details on the 2010 the weekend. symposium are not yet confi rmed, but will be available by contacting the C&T association through their website The Empire Symposium offi cially opened by the current www.costumeandtextile.co.nz president of the Costume and Textile Association, Dr Jane Malthus, along with Douglas Lloyd Jenkins, and the pres- Lucy Hammonds entations got off to a start with the fi rst keynote address Curator of Design Collections by Louis Le Vaillant. It was with great pleasure that we Hawke’s Bay Museum and Art Gallery welcomed Louis back from Melbourne, where in 2009 he Victoria Jane, Mark Muir and Linda Malone dress for up for took up the position as the director and curator of The the Empire symposium and exhibition opening. Johnston Collection, a Fine and Decorative Art Museum in East Melbourne. Louis’ paper Pink, Portraits, Pageants, Pro- cessions & Presidents examined the connections between the developing British Empire and the splendour of its costumes and textiles. His presentation set the tone for the rest of the day with papers exploring Empires far and wide. Day Two began with several outstanding papers, among which was a fascinating examination of the appearance of playing card motifs on 19th century Maori garments june 2009

11 museums aotearoa quarterly

Operation valour

Our nation will never forget the breaking news item on I am sure that all readers will have some understanding of Sunday 2nd December 2007 when reporters announced the impact that this theft had on my staff. After all, regard- that criminals had smashed their way into the National less of their position in the Museum, the fact that they are Army Museum and escaped with a haul of the nation’s part of ‘the team’ means that they all, quite rightly, consid- most important treasures and taonga. Twelve medal ered that they were all custodians who were responsible groups, comprising 96 medals that included Captain for the safety and security of the nation’s treasures. In a Charles Upham’s VC & Bar; eight other VCs, two George nutshell, the impact was devastating on us all and contin- Crosses and one Albert Medal were included in the theft. gencies were very quickly developed to ensure they all Following a major investigation by the Police, 75 days later received whatever support may have been necessary. all those medals were recovered. And then, following an Such support included the securing of a councillor who extensive forensic examination of the medals, the Police deals with these matters; using Victim Support personnel; were in a position to return those medals back to the Mu- inviting Ministers of Religion to make themselves available seum during a moving ceremony conducted on the 21st for either group or individual sessions and, as management, of October 2008. to ensure the team were kept constantly briefed on what This article is aimed at providing all readers involved in the was happening – why it was happening – and what possibly sector with an insight into the effect this crime had on the was about to happen. These sessions were also a very im- Museum staff and our most important stakeholders – the portant ‘team-rebuilding mechanism’. I am confi dent that visiting public. It will also provide items of information whilst most of us emerged with scars we never envisaged, that may assist you with your future plans and processes we are most probably a lot stronger from the ordeal. to ensure that you are well prepared, not only to prevent Now a word on the media. You should be aware that the likelihood of a similar crime being committed in your in the electronic age we now live in, the media are able facility, but to have in your toolbox a range of tools that to quickly learn that something untoward has occurred. may assist you to manage the multitude of issues that will The use of scanning equipment enables media outlets to arise from such a crime.

One of the very fi rst challenges that the Museum staff and Police were faced with was to determine exactly what had been stolen. The implications of having the entire Museum secured as a crime scene placed many limitations on the staff’s ability to assist the Police in this task. To do so, re- quired a close-up examination of the actual crime scene and whilst CCTV can certainly assist, there is no better aid than one’s own eyeball. It is, however, not just a matter Alcove of Valour at the National Army Museum of approaching the actual scene and jotting down what appears to be missing. The process took many hours, and in the meantime, without this knowledge, it was not pos- sible to release any information to the donors or families associated with the stolen medals. The second frustration, having identifi ed just what had been stolen, was to locate these donors. Sadly, over time, we found some of our records were no longer accurate. This is in no way a criticism of my staff because they are not required to maintain a regular relationship with our donors. But we soon found on that day that a number of the original donors were now deceased and attempting to fi nd someone else in the family was a monumental task. The Police were able to assist, although when the item went to air, three families had yet to be contacted. It took a week to complete the task, with the last family member june 2009 being tracked down in Australia. 12 museums aotearoa quarterly

International Museums Day at Whangarei Art Museum

fi nd out what the Police are responding to. So do not be In the midst of museum restructuring and a sometimes surprised if you have media on your doorstep even before punitive and demoralising political and economic environ- the dust from a break-in has been able to settle. ment, its hard to focus on the positive - let alone feel deliriously celebratory! The media played a most signifi cant part in the recovery of the stolen medals and I continually applaud them for When the opportunity does come along, it is time to grasp maintaining the pressure they did as this obviously con- it with relish and be loud and proud. I decided Internation- tributed to the recovery of the treasures. And a quick al Museums Day on 18th May was just this opportunity. tip – appoint a media liaison individual from within your A media release also gave the opportunity to talk about staff to assist with the management of their requirements wider museum sector issues internationally and nationally – and a further quick tip – if you are the Director, I believe (and by sly inference ‘back at home! - see the full media it is your responsibility to front the media! release www.whangareiartmuseum.co.nz). Finally two other aspects. There is a cliché that suggests The dilemma for us was just what to do for the day at what that “every cloud has a silver lining” and that has certainly was very short notice. Council had just decided that we been evident since the medal theft. Our visitor numbers would be closed on Mondays for the foreseeable future have increased since the theft because our nation now as part of the restructure and this had been publicly an- know where we are and what we are and, as a result, they nounced to start fi rst week in May. Museums Day was on are very keen to pay a visit to see “their treasures”. a Monday and staff had already been put on a 4 day week. The last aspect is on security. This should be taken very We feared the public would be confused if we re-opened seriously by all agencies involved with exhibiting treas- on Monday. I decided to focus on the potent power of the ures and taonga and you should all be constantly secu- word ‘FREE’ and utilise the day as an audience marketing rity conscious about your own facility. Security concerns tool. We ordered piles of steaming muffi ns, put our ex- should not be vested in just one individual – all staff have cellent coffee machine from the staff room downstairs at a very important part to play. We, at the National Army reception for a FREE feed, offered all our largely ‘free’ or

koha catalogues as FREE for the day, made our free/koha entry FREE for the day! In other words it was actually largely a normal working day for us; with the only true Museum, would welcome any queries that other museums and cost some delicious muffi ns from petty cash. galleries may have and we will do our utmost to assist The media feedback was great and very positive. The them with whatever advice we may have to assist them in board were delighted at the initiative and the public rolled their procedures. in steadily. It was NOT a ‘lolly scramble’ – in fact it was an average day in terms of visitation, but what was obvious R.J. Seymour Director was that these were predominantly fi rst-time or infre- National Army Museum quent visitors taking advantage of a FREE day – that they could have otherwise have had at anytime of the week. It succeeded in what we had intended it to be – a great marketing opportunity. Ironically, most of the muffi ns remained uneaten at the end of the day, (most said they had already eaten) and to further the irony, locals who visited probably didn’t realise that the FREE entry and lovely publications available at their art museum, they subsidise to the cost of a mere $2.40 per annum per ratepayer – you can’t BUY a decent coffee and muffi n for that at the café next door!! Next year we will make bigger plans – and less muffi ns !!!

Scott Pothan

Director, Whangarei Art Museum june 2009

13 museums aotearoa quarterly

My favourite thing

Currently on display in the New Zealand Portrait Gallery The painting is part of a collection of royal portraits which (in Shed 11 on the Wellington Waterfront) is a magnifi cent were donated to Government House, Wellington, in 1957 portrait of three small children and their pet dogs. It is by the then departing Governor-General of New Zealand, titled “The Three Eldest Children of King Charles I” and is part Sir Willoughby Moke (later Lord) Norrie & Lady Norrie. of our current exhibition: “Legacy: The Norrie Collection and While it has been possible to trace the provenance of Other Portraits from Government House”. many of the other portraits which were part of this gift, nothing much is known of the previous ownership of this An inscription on the left hand column gives us the names particular portrait and it is assumed that it had belonged and birth dates of the children who are: Prince Charles, to the Norrie family for some time. later to become Charles II, on the viewer’s left, Prince James in the centre, who became James II, and Mary, the The New Zealand Portrait Gallery has been particularly Princess Royal, who was later celebrated for her intel- fortunate to be able to display this collection during the ligence and beauty, and, as the wife of William, Prince of current refurbishment of Government House, and wishes Orange, became the mother of George III. to acknowledge the role of our patron, HE The Hon Sir Anand Satyanand in making this possible. The inscription dates this work 1635, and states that it was painted from the life [“AD VIVUM DE PER AN VAN Avenal McKinnon DYCK EQ”]. When it was exhibited at the Auckland City Director Art Gallery in 1955, it was attributed to Sir Anthony van New Zealand Portrait Gallery Dyck, as claimed by the inscription, although in later years Photograph on front cover: that attribution has become “studio of van Dyck”. Cer- Studio of Sir Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) tainly the composition replicates that of the same sub- The Three Eldest Children of King Charles I, c1635 ject by Anthony van Dyck, painted for Queen Henrietta Oil on canvas, 132.1 x 147.3 cm Maria, which currently hangs in the Queen’s Collection Government House, Wellington in Buckingham Palace. It seems that there are suffi cient stylistic clues to suggest the hand of the master is present

in the fi ner details. Dr Erin Griffey, who has curated this exhibition, notes that “it has not been subject to scientifi c analysis or cleaning in the past fi fty years, and the results RECOGNITION FOR will be helpful in ascertaining authorship.” MUSEUM & GALLERY PEOPLE This portrait is startling in its charm without being senti- CONGRATULATIONS TO: mental. The children stand upon a patterned carpet against Jenny Gibbs, who was made a Dame Companion a backdrop of ornate hangings, their delicately painted of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DCNZ) in faces expressive of childlike diffi dence and trust. They are the Queen’s Birthday Honours for ‘services to the fl anked protectively by a pair of spaniels, whose hair, eyes arts’ – something of an understatement! and naturalistic poses demonstrate brilliantly skilful brush- work. The hands link convincingly across the composition, Jane Kominik, appointed Companion of the enlivening what might otherwise have been a static ar- Queen’s Service Order in the Queen’s Birthday rangement. The young Prince Charles, in the elegant idiom Honours (QSO), who has recently retired after of van Dyck, leans gracefully against a balustrade, his legs many years service in the Ministry for Culture and in contrapposto pose. The fashionably slashed sleeves of Heritage. his doublet suggest movement, which is reinforced by the Blair Jackson of Christchurch Art Gallery and play of golden light across his brown suit. The light contin- Tracy Puklowski of National Services Te Paer- ues to play upon the cap, hair and sleeves of the central angi, who are off to the Getty leadership pro- fi gure of Prince James, who is in the act of turning. The fi g- gramme in Los Angeles in July. ure of Princess Mary is transformed and animated by the silvery tones which highlight her pearls, fl ounced sleeves Natasha Conland, Curator of Contemporary Art and skirt. at Auckland Art Gallery, who will be the curator of the 4th Auckland Triennial in 2010. june 2009

14 museums aotearoa quarterly

MA Associate profi le - NZ Micrographic Services

How do you scan a seven metre long whakapapa scroll or http://www.hmif.co.nz/) is currently based in the National a collection of early glass plate negatives or your uncle’s Library building, though it will be moving to a new home world war two diary? Carefully! And by people who re- soon as the Library decants for building refurbishments. spect what they’re handling. The centrepiece is our imposing one ton Cruse scanner with a 10,000 pixel digital camera, and 1000 x 1500 scan Our focus has always been on heritage items; preserving bed. This facility has set the benchmark for quality digital and making them more accessible through digitisation and capture in Australasia. microfi lming. We’ve been working with libraries, archives, museums and individuals for almost 20 years. We are probably best known for the high end digitisa- tion work we do, aimed at capturing a faithful rendition As the name suggests New Zealand Micrographic Services to “archival” standards, but our digitisation team also have (NZMS), started as a microfi lming bureau and we’ve been talents in printing (up to 1100mm wide by 30 metres long) fi lming historical and current newspapers for the National and optimising images through post scan manipulation e.g. Library and regional institutions around the country since to, sharpen illegible text or digitally repair damage that is 1990. 11 million pages to date! Many of the newspapers evident in the original. that are available on the Papers Past website (http://pa- perspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast) were fi lmed by An example you may have seen is the reproduction of us and most of the images you see were digitised from the Treaty of Waitangi for the “Treaty 2U” Exhibition. We microfi lm by our Microform Scanning team (http://www. were contracted by Te Papa, Archives New Zealand and mcoe.co.nz/). Set up jointly with our sister company Desk- the National Library to scan transparencies of the Treaty, top Imaging, this unit also digitises large volumes of prop- colour-match to the originals, and print them as near per- erty records from fi lm, fi che and aperture card for Local fect as possible, to be aged by Dan Reeves, of Lord of the Government bodies. Rings fame. Our Managing Director Andy Fenton had the rare privilege of seeing the original Treaty sheets without Uncommonly in this industry, we do all the preparation the barrier of the thick glass case. for clients to get the papers to camera. In most countries this is done by the Institution, but we have a dedicated Perhaps the biggest area of growth for us is in eBooks team who check every issue and every page for complete- were we can digitise and make ‘text searchable’ out-of- ness and condition; stabilising and fl attening as needed, or print books for local and historical associations nation- contacting other libraries to fi nd missing issues. The pho- wide. Online and searchable access for heritage materials tograph (on the front cover) shows perhaps the worse is of great interest. page the team has ever preserved on fi lm, the April 17 1899 cover of the Manawatu Evening Standard. Margaret We also like to share some of what we know through our Camera Team Leader spent hours reconstructing it participation in forums like the NDF (National Digital from confetti to fi lm it but she wasn’t about to let the last Forum) and though workshops such as the recent series copy in existence go without a fi ght! on digitising museum collections we delivered on behalf National Services Te Paerangi. Our thanks to Jade and However much of the action these days is around digi- Tracy for giving us the opportunity, it was a pleasure to tisation… Photographic collections tend to be the top meet curators and museum folk from a whole range of priority for many institutions and we have worked with museums and spread the word on interoperability and wonderful examples from around the country such as the quality standards. Whanganui Regional Museum’s Partington Collection, his- torical photographs from Feilding Library (which we also Janine Delaney host online) and transparencies for Archives New Zea- NZMS web: www.micrographics.co.nz land’s War Art Online website. Bound volumes and very large items such as maps, architec- Photograph on front cover: Margaret, Camera Team Leader with cover of the Manawatu tural plans, paintings, and 19th Century ledgers have their Evening Standard. own challenges and often need very careful handling and support. We set up a facility in 2003, in collaboration with Victoria University of Wellington, to specifi cally address this need. The Heritage Materials Imaging Facility (HMIF june 2009

15 museums aotearoa quarterly

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