Events Weddings at Old St Paul's Matariki at Te Papa 1913 Great Strike Parade Nightmare at Rotorua Museum MA14 Reviews May 2014 Contents Museums Aotearoa
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Events Weddings at Old St Paul's Matariki at Te Papa 1913 Great Strike Parade Nightmare at Rotorua Museum MA14 Reviews May 2014 Contents Museums Aotearoa EDs Quarter 3 Te Tari o Ngã Whare Taonga o te Motu Davina Davis 1957 – 2014 3 Is New Zealand’s independent peak professional organisation for museums and those who work in, or have an interest in, museums. Members include NZ Museum Awards 2014 4 museums, public art galleries, historical societies, science centres, people who work within these institutions and individuals connected or associated with My Favourite Thing 5 arts, culture and heritage in New Zealand. Our vision is to raise the profile, strengthen the preformance and increase the value of museums and galleries 1913 Great Strike 6 to their stakeholders and the community Message from the Board 7 Contact Details Staff Changes 7 Level 8, 104 The Terrace, Wellington 6011 PO Box 10-928, Wellington 6143 Ols St Paul's Weddings 8 Tel: 04 499 1313 Fax: 04 499 6313 Communication and Culture 9 Email: [email protected] Web: www.museumsaotearoa.org.nz Associate Profile – STQRY 10 Contributions Museum Profile – Hastings City Art Gallery 11 We welcome article suggestions and contributions. For enquiries about contributing to MAQ please contact us at [email protected]. Dusting off the Code of Ethics 12 Staff Nightmare at the Museum 15 Phillipa Tocker – Executive Director Talei Langley – Membership Services Manager Matariki at Te Papa 16 Advertising Policy Matters! 17 Enquiries about advertising in this publication, or mailing flyers, should be addressed to the Museums Aotearoa office MA14 – Cindy Jemmett 18 MA14 – Alice Hutchinson 19 MA14 – Maddy Jones 20 Next issue Immunity From Seizure 20 MA14 – Gary Ross 21 August 2014: Reviewing the Business of Culture 22 Haere Rā Betty Nelly 23 People Cover Images Disclaimer Main: The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Andrea du Chatenier, Denizens of the Deep, 2011 Editor or of Museums Aotearoa Lower: Attendees at MA14, MTG Hawke's Bay ISSN 1177-7362 Back Cover: MTG Staff welcome MA14 delegates. Guest judge Helma van den Berg with finalists for the Best Museum Project (museum) Credit: John Cowpland, Alphapix; for MA. Joint Services on parade, Awards photobooth. 2 MAQ May 2014 EDs Quarter With the MA14 conference and AGM now over, we're looking back on the to host. We want these to be both useful and fun event in this issue of MAQ. Thanks to our colleagues who have shared their – as someone said at a Creative NZ workshop I thoughts on the conference in these pages – they give a good flavour of our attended recently, we need more parties! time in Napier, and hopefully readers who were not able to attend will be able to pick up some of the vibe as well as some good ideas. While 'more parties' may at first sound like a throwaway line, it is worth a bit more consideration. While the annual conference is the major event in Museums Aotearoa's Gatherings of like-minded people – perhaps with calendar, there are many others for museums and galleries. Some reach across a wild card or two – have many benefits. In a the sector and beyond, such as WW1 commemorations and Matariki. Others workplace they help people to understand each are particular to a locality or community, perhaps showcasing the work of local other so they can work together more effectively. quilters or painters, or remembering an occasion such as the 1968 sinking of An outside contributor can offer new thinking to the Wahine. And then there are private events that we host in the museum or help people think differently about what they do gallery to raise revenue, including weddings, dinners and meetings. and evolve their practice. Meeting with colleagues from another institution offers opportunities Not all kinds of events are possible in every institution, and it is important to to learn, commiserate and enthuse – 'a problem only do what works with the overall ethos, as well as the physical limitations shared is a problem solved', or at least better of the spaces. A key message from MA14 speaker Laura Wright, CE of Tate understood. Or as the well-known whakataukī Enterprises, was that Tate only take on events and projects that reinforce reminds us, the Tate brand. This applies to everything from choice of sponsors and merchandise, to the menus in their cafés. Naku te rourou nau te rourou ka ora ai te iwi. With your basket and my basket the people will live Museums Aotearoa events also have to fit with our mandate. When the new Board met this month, they were keen to set strategic priorities for the Ngā mihi, association, to ensure that we're doing the very best we can for our members. Phillipa Tocker Later this year we plan to hold some more regional meetings. We will be Executive Director, Museums Aotearoa calling for suggestions for speakers and topics, as well as member institutions Davina Davis 1957 – 2014 The South Canterbury Museum’s Curator of Collections, Davina Davis, died But it is who Davina was that meant the most on 24 April following a very short battle with cancer. Davina had been with to us. She loved life and was a friend to so many. us for 17 years, well-known to a number of colleagues around the country There was so much about her that drew people and with whom she communicated and collaborated. made her a vital part of our team. We miss her so much and struggle to believe that she has gone so Following some contract work at the former Porirua Museum and completion quickly. Our thoughts are with her daughter Zarae of her post graduate diploma in Museum Studies, Davina started work at and husband Michael, along with her wider family the South Canterbury Museum in February 1997. She quickly came to and many friends, as they come to terms with what grips with the Museum’s extensive collections, and completed her MA has happened. in Museum Studies using the Museum’s Victorian and Edwardian dress collection for research. Hei maumaharatanga ki te tino hoa. Like many in smaller museums, Davina was adept at multi-tasking. Davina was a life-long learner who sought to raise her skills and standards at the Museum. As well as managing the social history collections, she was very involved in the exhibition process. She was also active in public programmes, leading the children’s Museum Explorers Club, and co-ordinating performances. Davina also oversaw the efforts of many volunteers, temporary workers and overseas interns. Her work led to a wider engagement with diverse sections of the community. Davina was proud of her Ngai Tahu heritage and in recent years sought Davina Davis to extend her te reo and work more closely with local Māori communities, preparing an historic culminating in last year’s Te Hikoi exhibition with a focus on the last 150 boundary post for years of local Māori heritage. exhibition in 2012. 2014 May MAQ 3 NZ Museum Awards 2014 Guests packed the Ballroom at Napier's War Memorial Centre on Thursday The exhibition categories drew some especially 3 April to celebrate the best of the best of museum and gallery projects from strong entries, and the judges had a difficult around the country, including two local winners. task selecting the 6 finalists. The two winners were Tauranga Art Gallery for Corrugations: the MTG Hawke's Bay, the redeveloped museum, theatre and gallery complex art of Jeff Thomson, and Canterbury Museum for deservedly won the museum project category for seamlessly connecting its RISE – Street Art. The judges were impressed by old, not-so-old and new wings into a commanding new presence in the Corrugations in the under $20k category. It is an cultural life of Napier, which can now give due attention to its venerable "ambitious undertaking for the small team in a collection. regional gallery", beautifully presented and with comprehensive public programme material and Across the Bay, Hastings City Art Gallery won the new category for collateral, and currently touring other regions. innovation in the use of Te Reo Maori. In Te Taniwha, the judges recognised that HCAG had utilised Te Reo Māori in a significant and meaningful way In the over $20k exhibition category, RISE – Street that captures and enhances the spiritual essence of the language and the Art stood out for its creativity, vigour and rigour, historical, cultural and spiritual value of the stories, places and people. "a conceptual and practical challenge handled professionally and bravely", said the judges. Two other winners were collaborative projects. Rotorua Museum worked with Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre on the urban release of the Also honoured on the night was Bronwyn Simes, NZ Falcon – a worthwhile and fun project for a museum and its community. winner of the Individual Achievement Award. The judges were impressed by "the on-going 'falcon-ness' which is pervading Bronwyn is respected and appreciated by all her Rotorua". colleagues for her dedicated contribution as a project manager, most recently shepherding the NZ Historic Places Trust worked with the NZ Film Archive to bring redevelopment of Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, some unusual settings to life with historic film footage. Screening in listed and now helping Canterbury Museum with their woolsheds, Reel Life in Rural New Zealand won the public programmes earthquake recovery. category by "capturing a strong feeling of nostalgia and authenticity", and playing an active part in those rural communities. WINNERBest Exhibition over $20,000 WINNERBest Museum Project (museum) • Canterbury Museum, RISE - Street