Communicating Culture
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Communicating Culture National Digital Forum 2014 Otago Museum Sarjeant Transition Project Graham Turbott 1914–2014 Kaitiaki Hui February 2015 February Contents Museums Aotearoa EDs Quarter EDs Quarter 3 Te Tari o Ngã Whare Taonga o te Motu Communicating Culture is the theme for our MA15 conference in Dunedin While in the vicinity, I visited Pompallier Mission this May. Some of our contributors for this MAQ have addressed this in Russell. This is another example of a heritage site Kaitiaki Hui 4 Is New Zealand’s independent peak professional organisation for museums directly, such as Maddy Jones and Jamie Bell, the two National Digital that has undergone substantial change. Heritage and those who work in, or have an interest in, museums. Members include Forum delegates that Museums Aotearoa sponsored. Digital is changing New Zealand has uncovered its intriguing history Behind the Scenes 5 museums, public art galleries, historical societies, science centres, people who nearly every aspect of communicating culture – not only our visitors' access in its sympathetic and understated restoration, work within these institutions and individuals connected or associated with to cultural information, but also what happens back-of-house to provide that and knowledgeable and friendly guides help My Favourite Thing 6 arts, culture and heritage in New Zealand. Our vision is to raise the profile, access. The Dowse Wikipedia project is an interesting example. to interpret it for visitors. Also on my travels, I strengthen the preformance and increase the value of museums and galleries enjoyed a wander around Headland sculpture on Dowse Wikipedia Project 7 to their stakeholders and the community As well as digital projects, there are many other ways of communicating the gulf. Initiated by Waiheke Community Art culture onsite. New projects underway around the country aim to enhance Gallery in 2003, Headland has grown into a major National Digital Forum 2014 8 the opportunities. The Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth, new museum at biennial event which contributes to the Waiheke Contact Details Waitangi, new Ashburton Art Gallery and Heritage Centre, Nelson's Suter Island economy as well as the cultural life of NDF 2014: The Conference Within 9 Level 8, 104 The Terrace, Wellington 6011 and Wanganui's Sarjeant gallery redevelopments, will all improve on existing greater Auckland. PO Box 10-928, Wellington 6143 facilities so communication as well as care can be more effective. And as Policy Matters! 10 Tel: 04 499 1313 we go to press Otago Museum has announced a major science engagement All these examples show that, while we work Fax: 04 499 6313 initiative that will install a new planetarium and immersive theatre, upgrade with history and heritage as well as contemporary Museum Profile – Otago Museum 12 Email: [email protected] the interactive discovery world, and redevelop the education suite. None of culture, time does not stand still. There is always Web: www.museumsaotearoa.org.nz these projects are extravagant – they are all necessary to ensure that the next a new approach or opportunity to be embraced, Sarjeant Transition Project 14 generation can enjoy and be inspired by our cultural expression and heritage. whether it is digital, physical or intellectual. Contributions Museums Aotearoa is here to work with our Evan Graham Turbott 1914–2014 16 We welcome article suggestions and contributions. For enquiries about It is good to see these developments happening in the current climate of members to make the most of every opportunity contributing to MAQ please contact us at [email protected]. financial constraint. They are hard fought-for, and they help keep those of to understand and communicate our rich and Phillipa Berkley Nilson 1933–2015 17 us who work in museums and galleries inspired, as well as our communities. diverse culture. Staff For me, seeing museums in action is inspiring. I was lucky to be at the Treaty Maddy on the Marae 17 Phillipa Tocker – Executive Director Grounds on 6 February this year on the 175th anniversary of the signing of Phillipa Tocker Talei Langley – Membership Services Manager the Treaty of Waitangi. The mix of reflection, commemoration, celebration, Executive Director Comonwealth Association 18 peaceful protest, pomp and ceremony was entirely appropriate, and something Advertising that I would encourage all New Zealanders to experience. The addition of the Staff Happenings 19 Enquiries about advertising in this publication, or mailing flyers, should be new museum will make Waitangi more of a destination all year round and addressed to the Museums Aotearoa office enable the stories to be told more fully. Next issue May 2015: ANZAC / WW100 Disclaimer Cover Images The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor or of Museums Main: Aotearoa Science engagement at Otago Museum. Lower: ISSN 1177-7362 Rate books and valuation rolls are some of the most frequently used archives, especially by those interested in family history or genealogy; they are an excellent way of tracing ancestors, where they lived and for how long. Once a property location is established maps are used to show the location more precisely. (Detail of a rate book and detail of Dannevirke Map, 1953 TDC:00509:4) Back Cover: Waka being brought onto land at Waitangi 2015. Photo Ashley Cox Field Apart by Angus Muir and Alexandra Heany, Headland sculpture on the gulf 2015. Photo Ashley Cox 2 MAQ February 2015 2015 February MAQ 3 Kaitaki Hui Behind the Scenes Kāhui Kaitiaki: He oranga taonga, he oranga tangata The hui heard a perspective on research for Treaty The exciting world of Tapu Te Ranga Marae, 10-12 November 2014 claims from Rongomaiaia Te Whaiti, who has been compiling an inventory of taonga connected archives Pūtaiao, mahi toi and mātauranga (science, the arts and education) within to Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki Nui a museums and galleries were the focus of the 2014 hui of Kāhui Kaitiaki: He Rua Trust. If you mention you work in an archive most people oranga taonga, he oranga tangata, a network of Māori staff working in the stare at you blankly for a moment before politely museum and gallery sector. Art was the focus of a number of sessions. asking you “what sorry?” or “but, isn’t that boring?” Margaret Aull, curator at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, However, contrary to popular belief archives are Around 50 people gathered at Tapu te Ranga Marae in Island Bay near outlined the history of the tertiary institution’s actually pretty exciting things to work with. They Wellington’s South coast. The hui was fortunate to be joined by overseas art collection, spread across its different campuses hold tales from the past, giving us the chance to manuhiri, including Dempsey Bob, a Northwest Coast carver from British and embodying the its history (‘the collection view a snapshot from a time (often) beyond living Columbia, Canada; and Emily Crabtree, Aboriginal Program Manager at shows our whakapapa’); Nigel Borell spoke about memory. Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver. the Contemporary Māori Curators network; and Reuben Friend gave an overview of art being Not only are archives useful for finding The three days were a wonderful opportunity to find out about the variety of produced by Pacific Indigenous Australian artists information, there is also something lovely about amazing mahi underway around the motu and further afield. in Australia. gently leafing through the pages of a document which has existed much longer than you yourself As you’d expect for a Wellington-based hui, there was a good representation Closer to home, Nick Turoa from Te Papa Atawhai have or seeing the faces of men and women from from the Big House, Te Papa Tongarewa. Awhina Tamarapa and Dougal told the hui about the review of the Wildlife Act the past staring back at you from a photographic Vairous examples of North arrows. Austin ran an outdoor aurei (pāua shell cloak pins) and tūwiri (traditional 1953, underway as part of the ‘Outside In’ kaupapa, collection. drills) making session, setting people up so they could continuing making seeking to build and strengthen connections item is too large to be processed this way, but is not too fragile, it will be taonga throughout the hui. Rhonda Paku gave an update about the between DOC and tangata whenua. Archives share more than the words they contain: digitised using the plan scanner. repatriation of Te Hau ki Turanga to Rongowhakaata iwi, conveying a sense distinctive handwriting, finger smudges, spilled of the complexity of the project, as Te Papa works with iwi and others to Hui participants enjoyed the many and varied ink, tea stains on pages and annotations around There are number of visitors to the building - to lodge requests, conduct restore the whare to its original state. Khali Philip-Barbara ran a workshop spaces of Tapu Te Ranga and the manaakitanga key information all trigger a curiosity about who research or view our onsite exhibitions. Between digitising and assisting with session to wānanga ideas for Te Reo resources for museum educators. In her of Bruce Stewart and his whānau. We were also has handled the document in a different lifetime, requests one comes across many interesting stories, the odd mystery and a lot session, Dr Susan Waugh used stunning photography and engaging stories to fortunate to spend time with Bruce, listening to leaving a little bit of themselves behind. Below is of creativity. Many of these titbits are added to our Facebook page as I find traverse her career as a bird scientist, interspersed with meditations on ways of his own story and learning about the creation of a snapshot of just a few of the things I do with them, showing little snippets of what I love about archives.