|
|
Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Board
19 November 2024
|
Reports
TOITŪ OTAGO SETTLERS MUSEUM ACTIVITY REPORT
Department: Arts and Culture
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 This
report covers activities of Toitū Otago Settlers Museum (Toitū) from
1 July to 30 September 2024.
RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Committee:
a) Notes the Toitū
Otago Settlers Museum Activity Report for the period 1 July to 30 September
2024.
BACKGROUND
2 This
report is prepared for the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum Board meeting and
details the latest activities and KPI performance at Toitū.
DISCUSSION
Visitation
3 Toitū
recorded 66,186 visitors in this quarter, representing a 34% increase compared
with the same period in FY 23/24.
collections and exhibitions
Exhibitions
Maintenance of permanent exhibits
4 The
Exhibitions team continuously maintain the quality of the permanent exhibits at
Toitū. This program of work includes cleaning, minor repairs, and technology
upgrades. Recently, the focus has been on upgrading various transportation
interactives, such as replacing the rubber treads on the steps of the Tiger Tea
bus, refurbishing the upholstery in the Roslyn Tram, and updating the barrier
in the Police Car.
Permanent exhibition updates
5 The
team is currently installing new objects and digital screens in the Call to
Arms and Roll of Honour display which will be completed by Armistice Day in
November 2024.
Short temporary displays
6 Dunedin’s
B (for Beatle) Day celebrated the 60th anniversary of the
Beatles' two concerts in Dunedin with a display of memorabilia in the Research
Centre from June to September. The exhibit featured items generously lent by a
community member, along with a shortened version of Inside New Zealand’s
1994 documentary on the Beatles’ 1964 New Zealand Tour. Visitors
responded warmly to the nostalgic display, and the accompanying “dress up
as a Beatle” photo activity was also enthusiastically received.
7 Making
Waves: A century of round-the-world radio contact was updated with
new objects and stories to mark the centenary of the first round the world
radio contact between radio operators in Otago and England.
New displays
8 A
new exhibition featuring haute couture fashion from the 1970s and 1980s drawn
from the collection of visionary Naseby farmer, Eden Hore, is currently in
development and due to open in April 2025.
Foyer Feedback Post
9 A
new feedback post has been installed the Toitū foyer for visitors to share
thoughts about their visit. Some sample comments so far include:
· “Wonderful
museum, so glad we visited”;
· “I love how
much interaction there is. Makes you feel like you’re actually in that
moment and lets us understand the past better”;
· “A wonderful
resource for Dunedin”.
Digital Outputs and Public Talks
10 Peter Read has
put together another three Talking Pictures with a focus on artworks
from the Toitū pictorial collection. These latest episodes are available
on the Toitū YouTube channel and feature profiles of artist and
photographer Robert Harrison, portraitists and muralists Reuben and Herbert
Cole, and the work of amateur landscape painter John Crawford.
11 One ODT Cool
and Collected article by curator Sean Brosnahan was published on 27 July
2024 entitled “A treasure is a treasure for a’ that” about
the Craigdarroch snuff mull in the collection. A
treasure is a treasure for a’ that | Otago Daily Times Online News
12 13
additional Journey to New Edinburgh (JTNE) 100s short stories were added to the
Toitū YouTube channel. These continue to be tremendously popular with
descendant families. The team is very pleased and excited to hear that
Toitū is a finalist in the NZ Web Festival 2024 for these stories.
13 Eight
public talks were delivered:
Peter Read, Curator:
· Talk to East Otago
High School social studies groups on crime and punishment.
Sean Brosnahan, Curator:
· Ladies Friendship
Group Dunedin, on the Journey to New Edinburgh and Pioneers of the South video
series.
· OSA Winter
Function, on the two decades of the History Prize internship at Toitū.
· Polytech Design
Class, on Chinese history and artefacts at Toitū.
· University Staff
Club, on the Journey to New Edinburgh and Pioneers of the South video series.
· South Dunedin
Probus group, on the Journey to New Edinburgh and Pioneers of the South video
series.
· Cromwell U3A, on
the Furthers Frontiers film expeditions in 2020 and 2022.
· Roxburgh Area
School, on exhibition design and Otago’s gold rushes.
Collections
Acquisitions
14 A total of
31 donations were accepted into the collection including a large assortment of
Freemasonry equipment, memorabilia and ephemera. This new material complements
our existing holdings to documenting the important early Dunedin Lodges. A
large collection of music posters from the estate of the late Martin Phillips,
leader of the important Dunedin band, The Chills, was also acquired.
Collections Projects
15 Firearms
Collection Audit and Relocation: The firearms collection will be rehoused in
December.
16 Collection
Development: The Collections team continues work on updating our collection
recording and database processes including the creation of a collecting
development plan to guide our collecting into the future.
17 Lotteries
Environment and Heritage collections project: With full access now available to
the costume and textile store, work is able to continue on this project,
currently with the installation of new collection storage furniture as part of
this funded project.
Conservation Projects
18 The
Conservator assessed the condition of 138 objects this reporting period with a
number requiring remedial treatment prior to long term storage.
19 We recently
completed the partial conservation of a maritime painting of the vessel, Jesse
Readman (1935/136/2). The project involved assistance from an independent
conservator, was completed at Canterbury Museum and funded with assistance from
a Getty Scholarship Grant. A video about the restoration will screen in the
Research Centre later this year.
Archives
20 Collections
and Exhibitions staff processed 60 public enquiries, 58 by email/correspondence
and two through physical visits. The majority of these enquiries related to genealogy
or photograph/portrait orders. These numbers don’t include the large
number of informal enquiries at the Research Centre which is operated by our
Visitor Host team.
audience development
Enriching Local Curriculum (ELC) – Education
21 Education
themes explored during this reporting period included Pacific voyages, early
Dunedin life, and transport and technology, boats, Dunedin’s culture,
gold, Lan Yuan exploration, early encounters between Māori and European
settlers and the story of the Otago goldfields.
Visitor Programmes
22 Each month Toitū
offers a diverse range of self-guided gallery trails, public talks, workshops,
demonstrations, and performances.
23 During this
reporting period, our program of public talks featured a variety of speakers.
Jan Letts from the Tapestry Trust of New Zealand discussed a project depicting
New Zealand’s history through 100 tapestries. Author Penelope Todd shared
the family history that inspired her latest novel, *Nell*. Dr. Pooneh Torabian
spoke on the importance of the arts in supporting migrant and refugee
communities. Jonathan Cweorth and Brian Turner provided insights into the
history of the Gasworks Museum. Finally, Professor Lisa Matisoo Smith discussed
her research on global genetic markers and their relevance to Dunedin.
24 We also
offer a range of interactive workshops which this quarter included a school
programme to build and decorate a pinewood derby car drawing inspiration from
Toitū’s Transport and Technology display, the monthly Toddler Time
for under-fives, and an interactive children’s theatre performance in the
Tiger Tea trolley bus taking visitors on a journey from the introduction of
trams in 1879, to the re-introduction of electric buses in 2024.
commercial activity
25 During this
reporting period, the Toitū gift shop recorded strong sales, especially in
merchandise from local businesses in Dunedin and Otago. The exclusive Tiger Tea
product range has been particularly successful. Due to the popularity of the
children’s Tiger Tea t-shirt, an adult-sized version was added and is
selling well.
OPTIONS
26 There are
no options as this report is for information only.
NEXT STEPS
27 There are
no next steps as this report is for information only.
Signatories
|
Author:
|
Cam McCracken - Director DPAG, Toitū, Lan Yuan and
Olveston
|
|
Authoriser:
|
Jeanette Wikaira - General Manager Arts, Culture and
Recreation
|
Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
|
SUMMARY OF
CONSIDERATIONS
|
|
Fit with purpose of Local Government
This decision enables democratic local
decision making and action by, and on behalf of communities.
This decision promotes the social
well-being of communities in the present and for the future.
This decision promotes the economic
well-being of communities in the present and for the future.
This decision promotes the environmental
well-being of communities in the present and for the future.
This decision promotes the cultural
well-being of communities in the present and for the future.
|
|
Fit with strategic framework
|
|
Contributes
|
Detracts
|
Not applicable
|
|
Social Wellbeing Strategy
|
✔
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
Economic Development
Strategy
|
✔
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
Environment Strategy
|
☐
|
☐
|
✔
|
|
Arts and Culture Strategy
|
✔
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
3 Waters Strategy
|
☐
|
☐
|
✔
|
|
Future Development
Strategy
|
☐
|
☐
|
✔
|
|
Integrated Transport
Strategy
|
☐
|
☐
|
✔
|
|
Parks and Recreation
Strategy
|
☐
|
☐
|
✔
|
|
Other strategic
projects/policies/plans
|
✔
|
☐
|
☐
|
The activities in this report support the Arts and
Culture, Economic Development and Social Wellbeing Strategies.
|
|
Māori Impact Statement
The
Museum consults with and works with the Ngāi Tahu Advisory Group as well
as Rūnaka on a regular basis.
|
|
Sustainability
The principles of
sustainability underpin all the activity of Toitū and Lan Yuan.
|
|
LTP/Annual Plan / Financial
Strategy /Infrastructure Strategy
This report is for noting
purposes only.
|
|
Financial considerations
This report is for noting
purposes only.
|
|
Significance
This decision is considered
low in terms of the Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy.
|
|
Engagement – external This report is for noting
purposes only.
|
|
Engagement – internal This report is for noting
purposes only.
|
|
Risks: Legal / Health and Safety
etc.
There are no legal or health
and safety risks related to matters in this report.
|
|
Conflict of Interest
There are no known conflicts
of interest.
|
|
Community Boards
There are no known
implications for Community Boards.
|
