Toitu Otago Settlers Museum Activity Report
Department: Toitu Otago Settlers Museum
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 This
report covers the activities of Toitū Otago Settlers Museum for the period
1 January to 28 February 2018.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Committee:
a) Notes the
Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Activity Report.
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BACKGROUND
2 Not
applicable
DISCUSSION
Visitors
3 There
were 56,555 visitors to Toitū Otago Settlers Museum (TOSM) from 1 January
to 28 February 2018 compared with 57,887 for the same period last year. Total
numbers for the last financial year were 309,491.
4 There
were 18,775 visitors to the Dunedin Chinese Garden (DCG) from 1 January to 28
February 2018 compared with 20,641 for the same period last year. Total numbers
for the last financial year were 51,164. Numbers for the Chinese New Year
celebrations were down 1,000 due to lack of a fireworks display.
(Note: The high number of visitors in February 2018
was a result of the Chinese New Year event. In 2017 the Chinese New Year event
was held in the month of January. The Chinese New Year is the new moon
occurring between 21 January and 20 February each year.)
Financial
Summary
5 The
financial results below are for the period ended 28 February 2018 and include
the operation of both TOSM and the DCG.
1. The
net outcome for the first eight months of the new Financial Year to February
2018 was $100K Favourable.
2. The
financial result for the Otago Settlers Museum was overall in line with
expectations.
Visitor
Experience
Exhibitions
6 The Sketched
in Stone Exhibition continued in the Special Exhibitions Gallery,
showcasing local lithographic artists of the Victorian and Edwardian era. The
exhibition runs until 13 May 2018.
7 The
Women’s War: Patriotism, Service & Dissent opened on 7 October in
the Special Exhibitions Gallery, focussing on the World War I experiences of
Otago women, ranging from patriotic activity, service as nurses and volunteers,
to a minority who stood fast against the war. The exhibition runs until 24 June
2018.
8 Toitu
te Whare Taoka is a small photographic display which opened in the NZR
Lounge (Bullnose) on 28 November. The exhibition showcases Kai Tahu
whanui’s ongoing relationship with the Museum and celebrates the fifth
anniversary of the completion of the redevelopment project. The exhibition runs
until 22 May 2018.
9 What
If? Otago’s Harbour Vision is a pop-up display in the NZR Lounge
(Bullnose) of the architectural models for the proposed long-term harbour
development created by Dunedin company, Architecture Van Brandenburg. The newly-relocated
Feedback Tree has already received over 3,000 responses from visitors, with a
particular focus on the proposed pedestrian overbridge which features in the
DCC’s current 10 Year Plan. Given the Museum’s close proximity to
the proposed development (the bridge would begin just outside the
Bullnose/Chinese Garden entrance) this has proved a great opportunity for the
Museum to become a venue for discussions around the future of our city and in
particular the Harbour and Heritage Precincts of which we are such an important
component.
Public Programmes
10 A total of 27
programmes were held with a total of 704 attendees.
11 The annual Robbie
Rocks music competition was held on 21 January 2018 in the Octagon. The
People’s Choice winner was Boaz Anema; the Youth Section winner was Sasha
Freeman; and the Open Section winner was Maddy Parkins-Craig.
12 Waitangi Day Tours
on 6 February, by Ngai Tahu
Historian, Mr Bill Dacker, are becoming increasingly popular with 117
participants this year.
13 The improvised
theatre test pilot Journey of the Jura - Living History Tour
performed to visitors during January and February received positive feedback
from surveyed audience, WOW Productions, the cast and Enterprise Dunedin. This
is a new tourism product aimed primarily at cruise ship and other tourist
visitors.
14 Popular
children’s programmes included Pixie Trail, Circus Craft and Rock Art.
Education
Learning Experiences
Outside the Classroom (LEOTC)
15 A total of 336
students participated in LEOTC programmes during the February period comprising
127 secondary students and 209 primary students (17 adults accompanied these
groups). The Enviro Schools Hui was held at TOSM during this period.
Collections
Management
16 More
input was required by the collections team into the BECA report for the
property team on long term building issues.
17 A
visit was made to Balclutha to assess the large stock exchange clock which is a
potential donation.
18 There were 413 objects
catalogued by various staff including interns during the period.
19 Work
on developing the Collections Policy and procedures that will support this
continues and the DCC risk management team has been updated.
20 The
Collections team continued processing potential donation objects through the IR
process. Offers of objects for the collection have been received for
consideration by the curators this period.
21 An
application has been made to the OSA for funding for another scholarship for
the first half of this year. The potential recipient to help with work on the
Rockliff collection.
See Attachment A
Mana
Whenua Engagement
22 A group from the Visitor Experience team met with
members of Te Runanga o Moeraki to discuss a proposed Kāi Tahu
temporary exhibition as part of an ongoing series of Runanga meetings.
23 The Public Programmes staff member gave a brief Mana
Whenua perspective ahead of Kāi Tahu talks for
visiting school students as well as giving a presentation on the
‘cultural landscape’ for academics visiting Otago Polytechnic from
Hebei University in northern China.
24 The Bill Dacker
collection project with the Ngai Tahu Cultural Mapping team is progressing.
Partnerships
and Collaboration
25 A successful The
Burns Night Dinner was held on 25 January in conjunction with the Otago
Settlers Association (OSA) and the Dunedin Burns Club attracting 120 people.
26 The DCC intern from
the Otago Polytechnic completed work experience with TOSM at the end of
January. A Heritage Studies student from Victoria University of Wellington
Masters Programme has commenced a placement in the collections team and will be
contributing to the digital strategy. The annual History Prize intern worked
closely with the Visitor Experience team under curatorial tutelage and will
return later in the year.
27 The Hands-On
History programme run by the Humanities Department of the University of
Otago visited the conservation lab with a group of students. The feedback was
very positive.
28 Work on digitization
of the film collection also continued this month in conjunction with Maurice
Hayward of the Film Heritage Trust. It is seen as an ongoing project but one
that looks to secure access to this film heritage for the research and pleasure
of generations to come.
29 The registrar
continued the work with two skilled volunteer embroiderers one afternoon per
week. They continue working on rehousing some of the textile works that have
come off display from the Material Culture swap out.
30 An image of our
riding habit currently on display was sent for use in an exhibition at the
National portrait gallery in Scotland as it is a rare object that the still
trading company Stewart and Christie and Co Edinburgh were not aware existed.
31 The multicultural
nature of Dunedin’s Chinese New Year celebrations has come to the
attention of the Office of Ethnic Communities, who sent a representative to
this year’s event. The Mayor was also present as was the Consul General
from the Chinese Consulate in Christchurch.
32 A visit was made by
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, to view the Harbourside Models in the Bullnose
area in January.
Commercial
Activity
Retail
33 Retail revenue for
the period was $34,039. The revenue for the period was down 7.17% on the same
period in 2017.
Venue Hire
34 Revenue for venue
hire is $13,433 for the financial year-to-date and a comparative figure will be
available in the next financial year.
Audience
Engagement
See Attachment A
Dunedin
Chinese Garden
35 The Steering Committee
for the 10th Anniversary of the Garden met on 2 February to progress
plans to mark the occasion. Dunedin Chinese Garden Trust, Chair, Mr Malcolm
Wong was present at this meeting and will be visiting representatives from the
Yu Garden, Shanghai on his visit to China next month.
36 The Peony
Pavilion a Kunqu opera and workshop event was held as part of the 10th
Anniversary and a ticketed public performance followed on 4 February 2018.
37 Approximately 9,000
people attended the Chinese New Year event held at the DCG on Friday, 16
February, seeing in the Chinese ‘Year of the Dog’. A host of
different multi-cultural groups from the community participated in the
celebrations. Due to the fire ban in place the annual fireworks display was
substituted with a light and sound show to conclude the evening.
38 The Trip Advisor
website reports that the DCG currently sits at position number 21 out of 120
‘Things to Do’ in Dunedin.
OPTIONS
39 There are no options
as the report is for information only.
NEXT STEPS
40 There are no next
steps as the report is for information only.
Signatories
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Author:
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Jennifer Evans - Otago Settlers Museum Director
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Authoriser:
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Nick Dixon - Group Manager Ara Toi
Simon Pickford - General Manager Community Services
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Attachments
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Title
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Page
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a
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Additional Activity
Information
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22
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SUMMARY OF CONSIDERATIONS
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Fit with purpose
of Local Government
This report relates to providing a public service and it
is considered good-quality and cost-effective.
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Fit with strategic
framework
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Contributes
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Detracts
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Not applicable
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Social Wellbeing Strategy
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☒
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☐
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☐
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Economic Development Strategy
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☒
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☐
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☐
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Environment Strategy
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☐
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☐
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☒
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Arts and Culture Strategy
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☒
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☐
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☐
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3 Waters Strategy
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☐
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☐
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☒
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Spatial Plan
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☐
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☐
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☒
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Integrated Transport Strategy
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☐
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☐
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☒
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Parks and Recreation Strategy
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☐
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☐
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☒
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Other strategic projects/policies/plans
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☒
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☐
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☐
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The activities in this report support the Arts and
Culture, Economic Development and Social Wellbeing Strategies.
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Māori Impact
Statement
There are no known impacts for tangata whenua. The Museum
consults with and works closely with its Kāi Tahu Advisory Group.
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Sustainability
No implications although the principle of sustainability
underpins all of the activity of Toitū Otago Settlers Museum
and the Dunedin Chinese Garden.
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LTP/Annual Plan /
Financial Strategy /Infrastructure Strategy
This report is for noting purposes only.
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Financial
considerations
This report is for noting purposes only.
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Significance
In terms of the Council’s Significance and
Engagement Policy, the matters in this report are deemed to be of low
significance.
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Engagement –
external
This report is for noting purposes only.
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Engagement -
internal
This report is for noting purposes only.
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Risks: Legal /
Health and Safety etc.
There are no legal or health and safety risks related to
matters in this report.
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Conflict of
Interest
There are no known conflicts of interest.
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Community Boards
There are no specific implications for Community Boards.
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