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Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Board
5 October 2020
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Reports
Toitū Otago Settlers Museum and Lan Yuan
Activity Report
Department: Arts and Culture
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 This
report covers activities of Toitū Otago Settlers Museum
and Lan Yuan Dunedin Chinese Gardens (DCG) as at 31 August 2020 and discusses
activities over the past 12 months.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Board:
a) Notes the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum and Lan
Yuan Activity Report for the 12 months to 31 August 2020.
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BACKGROUND
2 This
report is written for the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum (TOSM) Board Meeting
and details the latest activities and KPI performance at Toitū Otago Settlers
Museum and Lan Yuan (DCG).
DISCUSSION
Visitors
3 Total
visitors to TOSM for the year ended 30 June 2020 were 217,132. Visitation has
been impacted with the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of the Museum due to
the restrictions of lockdown between 24 March to 16 May 2020. TOSM experienced
high visitation post redevelopment, followed by the projected decrease in trend
from 2018. For the first two months of this year the total visitors to TOSM
were 30,351. This is a decrease of 11,013 on the same period last year.
4 Total
visitors to DCG for the year ended 30 June 2020 were 34,701. Visitation has
been impacted again in August 2020 with a return from COVID-19 Level 1 to Level
2 restrictions. The DCG followed a similar trend to TOSM in visitation
particularly in the final quarter of the 2019-2020 financial year. For the
first two months of this year the total visitors to DCG were 2,562. This is a
decrease of 1,015 on the same period last year.
Financial
Summary
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Year to Date 31 August 2020
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Revenue
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YTD Actual
$000
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YTD Budget
$000
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Variance
$000
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Toitū Otago Settlers Museum
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837.3
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780.5
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(56.8)
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Lan Yuan
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30.4
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22.3
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(8.1)
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Total revenue
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867.7
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802.8
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(64.9)
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Expenditure
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Toitū Otago Settlers Museum
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817.7
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809.3
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(8.4)
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Lan Yuan
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45.7
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37.9
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(7.8)
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Total expenditure
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863.4
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847.2
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(16.2)
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Net Surplus / Deficit
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4.3
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(44.4)
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(48.7)
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Visitor
Experience
Exhibitions
5 The
Brought to Light: Collections Projects 2018-2019 exhibition opened on 1
November 2019 in the Special Exhibitions gallery. This exhibition was inspired
by highlights uncovered in the Collections Legacy Projects. This
exhibition heroes a range of objects and images which drew keen interest and
attention, during the legacy work. The exhibition will run throughout 2020.
6 The
Waharoa Project was completed and the whakawatea (unveiling) was held in the
Josephine Foyer on 2 October 2019. The waharoa represents the diversity of
cultures of our region nesting or finding home beneath the albatross. The
carving provides a striking new entrance to the Ara-i-te-uru Gallery. Te
Kōhaka a Tōroa translates as ‘The Nest of the
Albatross’ and was carved by Ngai Tahu artist, James York. Part of this
update included the refurbishment of the Mauri Stone plinth which has been
redesigned to incorporate a controlled water element, allowing visitors to wet
their hands before touching the pounamu boulder; as is culturally appropriate
and was originally intended.
7 New
captions and updated images have been added to the wahi poupou slideshows in
the Ara-i-te-uru Gallery. Work has involved researching, captioning and
re-formatting the hundreds of images which make up the seven individual runaka
slideshows. Visitors are now able to put names to faces and places in this key
part of the Kai Tahu display.
8 There
has been an ongoing schedule of object change-outs including the New
Edinburgh gallery. For example, the Paisley shawl and sampler in the large
case in front of the cottage have been changed out for other examples of this
type of textile.
Learning Experiences
outside the Classroom (LEOTC)
9 From
1 June 2019 to 31 July 2020 3,638 school students have taken part in our LEOTC
programme at the Museum comprising 27 primary and 11 secondary schools.
Although restrictions have seen challenges to our usual
offerings many local schools have visited since the last report and regional
school groups from Wanaka, Gore, Invercargill, Dunstan Area, and Balfour
schools have visited TOSM and DCG.
History from Home
10 During
the COVID-19 national lockdown the TOSM Educator used objects and
resources found around her own home to tell video stories about her settler
ancestors while encouraging children who were at home, to do the same.
Educational resources which have grown out of the regular lockdown video
episodes continue to be developed. These now feed into the longer-term
educational programmes and resources of the Museum.
Public Programmes
and Events
11 Public
programmes and activities for the period include the popular Tuesday Club as
well as the on-going Tapestry Project group (weekly), Toddler Time (monthly)
and Music Saturday (monthly). Music Saturday was renamed Live @ Toitū in
January 2020. Sunday talks throughout the year attracted consistent
audiences of around 100. Josephine’s Birthday was celebrated as is
customary in October 2019 with 160 visitors and the Tuia Mātauranga
roadshow attracted approximately 225 visitors in early December. Sensory Santa
experiences for groups needing a low impact sensory environment for children
were another welcome addition to programming in December 2019.
12 January
2020 began in good style with the annual Burns Night Dinner on 25 January. The Luck
of the Irish series of talks started in early February with 100 attendees
and although postponed due to the nationwide lockdown, will continue throughout
the year under COVID-19 ruling if required. Overall, we are pleased with
encouraging feedback from groups participating in our established and new
programmes for the period. With a fulltime Public Programmes Developer
established for TOSM and DCG, we have been able to dedicate more resource to
programmes offered.
Collections
13 Pleasing
results have transpired as three staff completed fixed term contracts in the
archives in December 2019. During this project a large volume of new
archives, files and records have been created in the Vernon archive system.
Significant successes have occurred in backlog work in the archives during
2019.
14 The
Museum currently has a Fixed Term Archivist working in archives. Due to high
demand, enquiries are limited to afternoons with bookings essential.
Commercial Activity
15 The
retail space at TOSM has met with some success despite the disruptions caused
by Covid-19. Results are however below our financial target for the
year due to business closure during six weeks of nationwide lockdown.
Steady sales throughout the financial year have been achieved by
ensuring good stock levels of our ‘best sellers’ over the busy
tourist season and diversifying the selection of brands on offer.
There were strategically timed sales throughout the year which also
boosted sales. The month of December was a highlight on the
sales calendar which coincided with the ever-popular Pixie Town exhibit.
16 Toitū
Otago Settlers Museum: our place, our people, our stories have been
available for sale at the Museum from October 2019. In time for the busy
cruise ship season this book provides a comprehensive overview of the
Museum’s exhibits, displays and stories.
Working from Home
17 The
COVID-19 national lockdown provided an unexpected opportunity to investigate
and develop other ways of engaging with visitors via a range of online media.
Curator Sean Brosnahan presented illustrated stories from the very early days
of European settlement in Dunedin in the series Curators Corner. The
series proved popular with the public and has acted as a launch-pad for a
reinvigorated Toitū YouTube channel. Previous TOSM documentary productions
like Journey of the Otago’s and Journey to Lan Yuan have
now been made available on the Toitū YouTube channel where they have been
garnering interest and reaching new audiences.
18 Public
Programmes Developer, Phoebe Thompson, produced a range of material for
children and parents over the national lockdown period in a History in The
Making series including a ‘Settler’s
Kitchen’ theme of early recipes. The series included settler-themed
crafts, weaving, time capsules; overall an entertaining ‘make and
do’ perspective for children.
19 Curator
Peter Read explored the Museum’s collection of historic photographs and
artworks in a weekly presentation of Talking Pictures during national
lockdown. Each episode followed an intriguing story which springs out of the
rich imagery housed in the TOSM archives and art store.
20 Level
2 and 3 Lockdown has also seen the revitalisation of our Museum newsletter.
Rebranded as Toitū To You, this publication presents a range of
interesting articles from Curatorial and Collections staff,
Public Programmes and Education, as well as safety information about the Museum
over the lockdown period alongside stories from Lan Yuan. Toitū To You
was published weekly during levels 3 and 4 and moved to a fortnightly schedule
during level 2. Lockdown provided a welcome opportunity to work in the digital
space.
Lan
Yuan (DCG)
2020 Chinese New Year
21 The
highlight of the Lan Yuan calendar is Chinese New Year which was held this year
on 25 January and heralded the Year of the Rat. A crowd of approximately
8,500 attended the event. The festivities included food and entertainment and
the event culminated in a spectacular display of Chinese fireworks. Chinese New
Year was followed by the traditional Lantern Festival two weeks later at which
time the Garden was open to the public, for evening viewing.
Nationwide coverage
22 The
crew and presenter from the New Zealand television series Grand Designs
visited the Garden twice throughout the 2019/20 year filming excerpts for the
show, providing nationwide exposure to the DCG.
Partnerships
and Collaboration
23 TOSM
and DCG continue to work with Ngāi Tahu contracting services for various
projects. An on-going collaborative relationship is also enjoyed with the
University of Otago and Otago Museum. Regular meetings are held
throughout the year with valued support organisations including the Otago Early
Settlers Association, the Dunedin Chinese Garden Trust and the Dunedin Chinese
Garden Planning Group. The Visitor Experience team are currently working with
Heritage New Zealand in project development.
OPTIONS
24 There
are no options as this report is for information only.
NEXT STEPS
25 There
are no next steps as this report is for information only.
Signatories
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Author:
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Cam McCracken – Director - Dpag, Toitū, Lan
Yuan
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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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23
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SUMMARY OF CONSIDERATIONS
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Fit with purpose
of Local Government
This report promotes the cultural
well-being of communities in the present and for the future.
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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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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 with the Ngāi Tahu Advisory
Group.
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Sustainability
No implications although the principles
of sustainability under pins all the activity of Toitū Otago Settlers
Museum and Lan Yuan 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 known specific implications
for Community Boards.
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Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Board
5 October 2020
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Frequency of Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Board
Meetings
Department: Civic
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 A
decision on the frequency of meetings for the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum
Board (the Board) is to be considered.
2 As
this is an administrative report, no summary of considerations is required.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Board:
a) Decides on
the frequency and start time of the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Board
meetings.
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DISCUSSION
3 A
decision on the frequency of the Board meetings is to be considered.
Until the end of 2016/19 triennium the Board meetings were held on average
every six weeks.
4 A
move to quarterly meetings would align with reporting for the Community and
Culture Committee. The relevant information provided to the Committee
would then be presented to the Board.
5 Traditionally
the start time has been 9.00 am which will be considered also.
OPTIONS
6 Option
1 – change the frequency to quarterly end periods being March, June,
September and December. With the meetings being conducted within a
two-week timeframe of the quarterly report being presented to a Community and
Culture Committee meeting.
7 Option
2 – decide on another frequency for meetings.
NEXT STEPS
8 When
the meeting schedule for 2021 has been adopted by Council, proposed Board
meeting dates be circulated to Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Board members
and approved at the next meeting. When approved by the Board they will be
put on the DCC website and advertised as required.
Signatories
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Author:
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Rebecca Murray - Governance Support Officer
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Authoriser:
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Clare Sullivan - Team Leader Civic
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Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
