Whats New

Westpac Nelson-Tasman Chamber Of Commerce Business Awards

Judging from the number of comments received in recent weeks our entry in the Business Awards caused a few surprises. In reality of course given the high level of community support through grants from Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council the obligation on our Museum to be business-like in its operations should not surprise anyone. The basic tenet of our application was the way we have engaged with our community at every level. This includes leveraging financial support from business and philanthropic sources, ongoing additions to our regional Collection, support for education programmes and public events by a full range of local people and of course the valued support shown by the numbers through the door for exhibitions, programmes and research opportunities.

I think it was Steven Weil who first observed that 'Museums matter only to the extent that they are perceived to provide the communities they serve with something of value beyond their own mere existence'. I think it would be fair to suggest that The Nelson Provincial Museum has a proud record of service dating from 1842 when it first opened its doors as the Nelson Institute and Museum on a site 50m up Trafalgar Street from its present site on Town Acre 445. Being selected from 24 entries as one of three finalists in the Innovation Award section of the Business Awards was a wonderful result. The Award was won by Anatoki Salmon, the third finalist was Opus International Consultants Ltd. One of the valuable things about participation in this sort of Award is the close examination required of the core work we undertake in order to describe the essence of that endeavour.

Season Ticket

Family Membership allows free entry to all exhibitions and events. However in response to a number of requests we have also set up a special scheme for families without membership that will apply to Sounds Amazing only. Buy a Sounds Amazing Season Ticket for $25 and your family can come and go to this exhibition as often as you like from 23 October 2009 to 7 February 2010.

New Monthly Feature - Views from the Past

Starting this month we'll be showcasing an image from The Museum's extensive photographic collection and detailing some of the background behind that image. See the first issue below.

Events

The Fonterra Science Roadshow

The Fonterra Science Roadshow believes that more than ever it is important to inspire children with hands-on, practical learning. The Roadshow includes more than 50 hands-on interactive exhibits.

This year the programme includes two special science shows - one based on Sound; so a great add-on for our Sounds Amazing exhibition.

On Tuesday 1 December 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Waimea Intermediate School supporters of the Nelson Provincial Museum have been offered a special opportunity to experience this hands-on science for themselves.

This show is FREE but there is only room for 150 people (pre-schoolers will not be counted in the total). To secure your place email ceo@museumnp.org.nz and we will put you on the list. We will keep a waiting list and one week before the show we will ask those on the list to confirm their places. I hope this sounds fair. While most of the exhibits are designed for school aged children, there are plenty of experiences that will challenge and extend the knowledge of adults too!

Sounds Amazing - Musical Events and Activities

The following table contains confirmed musical activities for events associated with Sounds Amazing

If you would like a brief weekly update on times and places for these activities and the many new ones that will be added please email ceo@museumnp.org.nz with the word UPDATE in subject or body text.

Exhibitions

Sounds Amazing

23 October 2009 to 7 February 2010

Sounds Amazing is a hands-on exploration of sound and music.
What a great start for the new exhibition, almost a hundred people a day for the first two weeks. Mosaic World Music attracted a huge crowd, the Rabbit Eared Bowers delighted everyone and William Fairbairn entertained us with a great variety of music out in the roof garden. We have lots more special treats in mind so 'stay tuned' to our email newsletters and to our media partners for this exhibition - Classic Hits FM and Newstalk ZB 1341AM.

Returning Butterflies

25 September 2009 - 13 December 2009

On view will be live specimens of some native species in various life stages. We have had a number of red and yellow admiral caterpillars grow, pupate and then break free as adult butterflies. These are carefully released and we hope they find suitable plants on which to lay their eggs for the next generation. The exhibition must close at the end of the school term on 13th December. It will be on display at Marlborough Museum in Blenheim over Christmas then it will spend a couple of weeks in Murchison at the Information Centre.

School Education Programme

Butterflies - Return
25 September 2009 - 13 December 2009

This exhibition is a collaborative project with a Royal Society Fellowship recipient, Roger Frost. Roger, a teacher at Murchison Area School, has been researching local native butterflies and how to sustain populations in the community. An outcome of Roger's research is this exhibition which will be on display in the classroom from 25 September. The exhibition will include live specimens at various stages of their life cycle.

The education programmes are very heavily booked so please ring and speak to an Education staff member if you want to visit.

Sounds Amazing
23 October 2009 - 7 February 2010

Sounds Amazing is a hands-on exploration of sound and music. It is certainly worth a visit! This exhibition comes from the same people that created the widely acclaimed Body in Action that delighted nearly 30,000 people. At this stage the education programmes are fully booked but there may be room for a small number of classes on end of year excursions. These groups must be booked or admission charges will apply.

School programme for 2010

There are a number of smaller exhibitions which have strong education programming potential on the horizon for next year. We start with an exhibition about NZ’s first naturalised Chinese migrant, Appo Hocton. This will allow groups to explore migration as a cultural experience and its impact on our cultural diversity here in the Nelson / Tasman region.

Later toward Term 2 we will have the acclaimed Treaty2U exhibition.

We are also exploring a possible exhibition on a war theme to open on Anzac Day.

Teachers with an interest in any of these possibilities are invited to contact education@museumnp.org.nz

Education Resources Online

The Nelson Provincial Museum's Education Services team have a number of online resources available to the region's schools and educators. more

In line with the privacy legislation Tasman Bays Heritage Trust only sends emails to people who have indicated an interest in the Museum and its activities. You can have your name removed from our newsletter at any time by clicking on this link unsubscribe