Te Awamutu museum recognised

25 March 2014

An exhibition of paintings by Waikeria prison inmates has thrust the Te Awamutu museum onto the national stage.

The museum, operated by Waipa District Council, has been named a finalist in the Museums Aotearoa Awards in the Best Exhibition Under $20,000' category. Its entry is for the exhibition Toi Ki Roto - Art Inside. The exhibition ran from June to September last year and showcased the work of inmates from the Te Ao Marama unit at Waikeria.

Museums and heritage director Anne Blyth said the exhibition had its genesis when Te Awamutu museum staff ran two outreach programmes at the prison. The programmes focused on taonga Maori from the museum.

That stimulated something. It allowed us to share the Waipa story with a group of people unable to access our facilities and it helped confirm the district as one very rich in heritage, she said.

It also generated discussions with prison staff around what next' and Toi Ki Roto was the result.

Over the course of a year, inmates and an art tutor worked on individual paintings for the exhibition. Artists were not identified and museum staff only ever dealt with the tutor or prison staff. Some artists chose to anonymously express their thoughts on their art; these thoughts were included in the exhibition.

The exhibition opened on June 19 and ran for 12 weeks. During that time, it is estimated more than 2,200 visitors attended. As a result of its success a further exhibition of another inmates artwork has been scheduled for later this year.

We very pleased about that and we hope these exhibitions will be the start of an ongoing relationship, Ms Blyth said.

The Museums Aotearoa Awards have been presented since 2008 and recognise excellence in the museum and gallery sector throughout New Zealand. They are intended to encourage continuous improvement and development of museums and galleries, inspire and recognise best practice and innovation, acknowledge the contribution made by individuals and enhance the profile of galleries and museums. The Te Awamutu museum was also named a finalist last year for its exhibition We Love Eels.

Award winners will be announced on April 3.

Media enquiries only: Jeanette Tyrrell (on behalf of Council) 027 5077 599