An artist's impression of the finished building at 307 Queen St, Hastings which will be used to house the Hawke's Bay Museums Trust collection. Photo / Supplied
We're really excited that a building has been purchased in Hastings to house the Hawke's Bay Museums Trust collection.
This facility will focus on community access and engagement, along with safe and appropriate care of the regional collection. We have a vision for this facility, as one that includes collection tours for the public, education programmes for schools and space for researchers.
We're also factoring in capacity for larger groups such as iwi or EIT students to have access to the collection. Our plan is to create a vibrant and accessible facility that the community can access and enjoy.
This collection, which the trust manages on behalf of the people of Hawke's Bay, holds collective treasures and memories of the region and community.
Within this collection are important and poignant photographs, letters, diaries and objects from the devastating 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake.
There are more than 6000 taonga tuku iho, including more than 100 cloaks, and many beautiful woven and decorated kete. The fine art collection holds artworks from local and nationally talented artists such as Rita Angus, Martin Poppelwell, Sandy Adsett, Tony Formison, Robyn Kahukiwa and many, many more.
The archive collection, along with earthquake material, holds important documents on subjects ranging from land wars, William Colenso, freezing works, Art Deco, architects, clubs and societies and most things in-between.
All these important treasures require and deserve the best possible care to protect them now and into the future. This building will provide museum-standard levels of care including close climate control to prevent deterioration of artifacts, appropriate levels of security, good pest management, and the right storage units to enable both care and ease of access.
The facility, which is based in Hastings, will enable the regional collection to be better shared across both Napier and Hastings. Located in the Hastings cultural sector and CBD, it will enable easier public access to the collection and build stronger ties between the arts and culture activities of both cities.
The Hastings location removes the collection in storage from the tsunami zone and minimises risk to the collection by spreading it across different geographical areas. Despite being in two locations, kaitiaki of the collection will remain in the Hawke's Bay Museums Trust's capable hands and operational management will continue to be run by MTG Hawke's Bay.
It's really exciting that both councils have worked together with the Hawke's Bay Museums Trust and Ngāti Kahungunu as a Joint Working Group to develop this plan.
Napier and Hastings councils have jointly purchased the building and are working with the Joint Working Group on the fundraising phase. Grant applications have been submitted to government and community trusts to develop the building into the desired community facility and to provide the best possible care for the collection.
The great thing about this new facility is that it's being developed with community in mind.
•Laura Vodanovich is MTG director
• Aria 2021. This prestigious singing competition involves 21 vocalists, aged 18 and over, who compete in preliminaries on Saturday evening. Six finalists then perform two operas during the Gala Performance on Sunday evening. Preliminaries Saturday, April 3, 7.30pm, Century Theatre. Finals Gala Performance, Sunday, April 4, 7.30pm, Century Theatre. Tickets $25 or $10 for students. Door sales only.
• MTG Movie Club. Casablanca, during WWII Rick, a nightclub owner, agrees to help former lover, Lisa, and her husband. Lisa's feelings for Rick resurface and she finds herself renewing her love for him. Sunday, April 11, 12.30pm, Century Theatre, Tickets $10 through eventfinda or at MTG. Free for Friends of the Museum. Rating PG
• MTG Movie Club. Rebel Without A Cause, a dramatic film about emotionally confused suburban, middle-class teenagers. Sunday, April 11, 2.45pm, Century Theatre. Tickets $10 through eventfinda or at MTG. Free for Friends of the Museum. Rating M
• MTG Movie Club. North by Northwest, an American spy thriller produced and directed by the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. Sunday, April 11, 5.15pm, Century Theatre. Tickets $10 through eventfinda or at MTG. Free for Friends of the Museum. Rating M
• Chamber Music NZ – Nocturnes. An evocative collection of night songs for the piano, played by internationally celebrated concert pianist, chamber musician and educator, Professor Jian Liu. Monday, April 12, 7.30pm, Century Theatre. Tickets available through Ticketek.
• Big Bike Film Night. A rollercoaster ride of action, humour and drama – for bike lovers this collection of films is a must see. Friday, April 16, 7pm. Tickets available at MTG or through our website
• EQUUS. Napier Theatre Company presents a psychological drama about psychiatrist Dr Martin Dysart and teenager Alan Strang. As Dysart traces the roots of Alan's problems, his own begin to surface as well. Friday, April 23–Saturday, May 1, Century Theatre. Rated R16. Tickets available through Ticketek.
• MTG Pop-up shop open in Century Theatre Foyer 9.30am–5pm every day (except Easter Sunday)