Annual Report | 2015–2016 Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory 19 Conacher Street, The Gardens Darwin NT 0820 www.magnt.net.au Printer: Whirlwind Print Paper: Maine Recycled Silk 150gsm. Cover: Maine Recycled Silk 250gsm Print run: 100 ISBN: 978-0-646-96509-3 © Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory 2016 Cover image: Large male Saltwater (Estuarine) Crocodile skeleton Contents Chairman’s Foreword 3 Director’s Foreword 4 Objectives 6 Our History 7 Our Spaces 8 Our Exhibitions 15 Engagement 30 Our Collection 35 Support 49 Commercial Activity 51 Our People 53 Work Health Safety 60 Financial Statements 61 Auditor's Declaration 93 Appendix 1 – Acquisitions 95 Appendix 2 – Publications 98 Rosy Skimmer dragonfly, Orthetrum migratum, Buley Rockholes. 2 MAGNT | Annual Report 2015–16 Chairman’s Foreword The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory’s second year as a statutory authority has been one of progress and expansion. The year saw some changes to the Board and air conditioning system at MAGNT with the resignations of Ervin Vidor, Mark Bullocky Point that will ensure the collections Rowberry and Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr- are properly maintained. Baumann. I would like to thank them for their MAGNT continues to draw thousands of valuable contributions as inaugural members local, interstate and international visitors of the Board. New members Janet Chisholm to our exhibitions and public programs and Libby Prell were appointed and they and I am proud of the influential role we have been active and effective members of play as the leading cultural institution in the the dedicated and hardworking Board. The Northern Territory. Board acknowledges with appreciation the commitment and support of the Northern A disappointment during the year was the Territory Government. The Hon. Gary Higgins stalling of the development of the Chan MLA, Minister for the Arts and Museums, building, in central Darwin, into a world-class was a great advocate for the Museum art museum. The Board is committed to the and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory development of an outstanding facility that the MAGNT Chairman, Allan Myers AC QC. (MAGNT) within government and we were the Northern Territory should aspire to and looks beneficiary of increased operating funding forward to further consultation with the new in 2015/16. We look forward to productive government to achieve this aim. cooperation with the new government which Finally, I would like to thank Marcus was elected with a mandate to carry out Schutenko, Director of MAGNT for his transformative policies for the arts in the ambition, commitment and hard work. He Northern Territory. has built a strong team that is transforming The Government announced a $3.97 million MAGNT into the strong and vibrant institution commitment to the Alcoota Station fossil beds it should be. site near Alice Springs, managed by MAGNT. This money will upgrade visitor amenities and Allan Myers AC QC raise the profile of this unique attraction. The CHAIRMAN Government also announced $5.3 million over four years towards a new heating, ventilation MAGNT | Annual Report 2015–16 3 Director’s Foreword In 2015-16 MAGNT hosted 11 temporary exhibitions including eight internally developed exhibitions. Highlights included Ben Quilty: after We are delighted to have received We operate in a tight financial environment Afghanistan, the 32nd Telstra National considerable new and increased financial but with the support from our many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award support. The Northern Territory Government stakeholders and the community, we continue (NATSIAA), Monster Pop! The monstrous side provides the bulk of our operating budget, to prosper as a vibrant cultural institution. of contemporary Australian and Indonesian and this year they increased our core Finally, I would like to express my appreciation Art, Towers of tomorrow with Lego© Bricks, funding to allow us to meet the expenses to the Board, staff and volunteers for their Winsome Jobling: the nature of paper and of our corporate services. We continued, commitment, support and dedication. Sweetheart Escapes. and entered into, productive funding agreements with the Australia Council for the NATSIAA is Australia’s premier Indigenous Arts, Telstra, Ian Potter Foundation, Gordon Marcus Schutenko award and attracted national and international Darling Foundation and the Commonwealth DIRECTOR interest, providing a stellar exhibition for Government whose financial assistance has three months. been invaluable. Monster Pop! brought together established Behind the scenes MAGNT continues to play and emerging artists from Indonesia and an important research role. Our curators Australia to explore popular culture. and researchers undertake regular field Winsome Jobling: the nature of paper was the trips, publish work nationally and overseas, second in our series of three retrospectives host visiting researchers and students and of contemporary Territorian artists. The continually add to our knowledge and skills. exhibition showcased the works of this Notably the year saw the creation or extraordinary paper maker. reinstatement of a number of positions. MAGNT’s iconic saltwater crocodile These included two Assistant Directors, Sweetheart had his home refreshed which Museum of Central Australia Manager, gave us the chance to display him in a new Curator of Aboriginal Art, Curator of environment. Sweetheart Escapes allowed Australian Art, Development Manager the Museum to display Sweetheart’s skeleton and Engagement Manager. publicly for the first time in 15 years. An Increasing the complement of staff has awesome sight! We are grateful to the enabled us to improve our management of MAGNT Foundation for its financial assistance the collection, focus on exhibitions and public with this project. programs, engage with a broader audience MAGNT Director, Marcus Schutenko. and improve our overall operations. 4 MAGNT | Annual Report 2015–16 Crowd at the 32nd Telstra NATSIAA opening night awards ceremony. MAGNT | Annual Report 2015–16 5 Objectives The objective of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory is to maintain the highest standards of excellence in preserving, researching, exhibiting and communicating the record of natural history, art and peoples of the Northern Territory. MAGNT is committed to: • maintaining and growing • promoting strong • providing vibrant spaces Indigenous, natural engagement with for cultural and scientific science, history and art Indigenous communities activities; and collections and respect for cultural heritage • developing strong • maintaining and funding relationships developing best practice • developing, growing and and philanthropic standards supporting relationships opportunities. within the region • preserving its national and international profile • telling the region’s stories through the promotion through exhibitions and of cultural and scientific public programs activities ‘making sense of the world by discovering and interpreting the past and present for the future’ 6 MAGNT | Annual Report 2015–16 Our History The museum and art gallery was After much deliberation, approval MAGNT was formed first housed in the renovated Old was finally granted for the in 1966, with the Town Hall (originally known as the construction of a new purpose- Palmerston Town Hall) in Darwin’s built museum and art gallery at introduction of a Bill into central business district. Bullocky Point, on the site of the old Vestey's Meatworks. the Legislative Council On Christmas Eve 1974, Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, destroying the Included under MAGNT’s of the Northern Territory. Old Town Hall and damaging umbrella today are regional Dr Colin Jack-Hinton was much of MAGNT’s collection. museums and heritage sites across Darwin and Alice Springs. MAGNT’s staff, along with the On 1 July 2014, MAGNT became appointed the inaugural collection, was housed in multiple an independent statutory body, buildings around Darwin. Staff director, taking up the now managed by the Board of came together for lunchtime the Museum and Art Gallery of position in 1970. lectures in the ruins of Old the Northern Territory. Town Hall. Installation view Cyclone Tracy exhibit. MAGNT | Annual Report 2015–16 7 Our Spaces Crowd at the opening of Winsome Jobling: the nature of paper. Photograph: Fiona Morrison MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY Darwin The Museum and Art Gallery of the history, science and visual Infrastructure works completed in 2015–2016 included: the Northern Territory was first art of the region and its people. • stage 1 of the upgrade and replacement of heating, ventilating and located in the Palmerston Town An extension was built and air-conditioning system at a cost of $5.3 million over four years Hall in Darwin’s central business completed in 1992 to display district, prior to its destruction the Northern Territory's maritime • development of an Asset Portfolio Management Plan to support by Cyclone Tracy in 1974. history. In 1993 the name of long-term planning improvements After the construction of a new the museum was changed to • refresh of the serving counter, at Cornucopia Museum Café purpose-built facility at Bullocky the Museum and Art Gallery of Point, the then Northern Territory the Northern Territory. MAGNT • security upgrades to Cornucopia Museum Café Museum of Arts and Sciences currently consists of seven • refresh of line marking in the staff carpark; and was opened in September 1981 permanent and three temporary by