Rick Rudd at Quartz museum in November 2015, the month it opened. Photo / NZME
Rick Rudd at Quartz museum in November 2015, the month it opened. Photo / NZME
The founder of Whanganui’s Quartz Museum of Studio Ceramics has resigned as chair and trustee, after running it “on the smell of an oily rag” for a decade.
Rick Rudd closed the museum this month, citing a lack of funding for staff, but private bookings arestill possible by appointment.
Meanwhile, the museum’s trust is making plans for its reopening.
Rudd, 76, said it was time for a new era.
“I’ve done as much as I can. It’s over to someone with more energy and ability to move it on to the next phase.
“I hope this place is still being celebrated in 100 years.
“Let’s say 90, because I’ve done the first 10.”
Ceramic artist and Rick Rudd Foundation trustee Andrea du Chatenier said the stress caused by trying to find funding was above Rudd’s “obligations to this collection”.
“The trust is working hard to find staffing and to keep it going,” she said.
“That may consist of a combination of paid staff and volunteers.
“We are writing funding applications, and there will be fundraisers and maybe auctions. But, we won’t be auctioning off the collection.”
She said the trust could not give an exact date for the reopening.
The foundation, a charitable trust, owns the building and the collection.
“The real turning point was when Simon Manchester donated his significant collection and an endowment to the museum (2019), which put it on another level,” Du Chatenier said.
“That was so generous.
“Rick has tended to it for 10 years, on the smell of an oily rag, tirelessly and generously.”
The collection and building are owned by a charitable trust, the Rick Rudd Foundation. Photo / Mike Tweed
She said income from Manchester’s endowment was not enough to keep the museum open long-term.
“There is money to keep the lights on, but not to run it with staffing.
“Having it operate on one person’s time and effort is just not sustainable.
“But we will open again. Planning is under way.”
She said those who had contributed to the museum “have heartfelt thanks from the trust”.
“This small town has these amazing cultural icons, such as the Sarjeant [Gallery], NZ Glassworks, and Quartz, and it’s all thanks to Rick that Quartz is here.
“It is the most important collection of ceramics in New Zealand.”
This year Rudd asked the Whanganui District Council for a $60,000 grant to fund two part-time positions, but it was voted against.
Rudd said the transition period would be interesting for all the trustees.
“I actually spoke to Andrea this morning about a couple of housekeeping matters. It’s just part of the handing over.”
He said he would never stop making artworks, despite no longer having the pressure of earning money for the museum.
“If I’m going to be out enjoying myself, I might have to make a lot of pots to pay for it, who knows?
“I’m hopeful and positive for the museum’s future, and I’ll be watching to see what happens.”
Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.
