10 objects-10 stories: celebrating community collections

Armbands, c.late 19th century, from the collection of the Scots-Memorial Museum and Heritage, Hobart

'10 objects-10 stories: celebrating community collections' launch (28 April-2 June 2016)

'10 Objects – 10 Stories: Celebrating Community Collections' presents a remarkable range of objects and their stories selected from small museums and collections around the state, the storytellers and custodians of our cultural heritage. The exhibition has been curated by the Melissa Smith and Veronica Macno and is being held in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of Arts Tasmania’s Roving Curator Program.

Opened by Nicholas Heywood, Managing Director of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra,  this small yet powerful exhibition conveys storytelling in every dimension .  The curators have managed to gather up a diversity of materials, forms and disciplines from across the state--from heavy metal to delicate silk, Science to Decorative Arts, local to international networks, oil painting to a whale's ear bone--it's all here.  The objects captivate and each mini-narrative told via the object label fascinate. Together, the ten objects tell the bigger picture of the strength of small collections held across the state and their potential to capture the past as well as to be charming in their own right.  

To be sure it's a roomful, so why not pop along!

Melissa introducing Nicholas Heywood. They are standing before the photograph and its reproduction of
'Scenes from Twelfth Night, 1922' from the Hutchins Archives and Heritage Collection. Nicholas was able to reminisce about his time at Hutchins--reminiscences a hallmark of  '10 object--10 stories'.

In his opening speech, Nicholas read extracts from a modern manifesto for museums from 'The Museum of Innocence' by Orhan Pamuk.  One such thought is:

"Large national museums such as the Louvre and the Hermitage took shape and turned into essential tourist destination alongside the opening of royal and imperial palaces to the public. These institutions, now national symbols, present the story of the nation-history, in a word-as being far more important that the stories of individuals. This is unfortunate because the stories of individuals are so much better to displaying the depths of our humanity". (p55)

Congratulations to Melissa and Veronica and to the staff and volunteers from small museums that keep our objects safe. The objects on display for this show were chosen from small museums/collections who were previous recipients of the Roving Curator Programs. Huge thanks to:

Arts Society of Tasmania Incorporated (Lady Franklin Gallery), Hobart

Channel Heritage Centre, Margate

Derby Schoolhouse Museum, Derby

Devonport Regional Gallery, Devonport

Don River Railway, Devonport

East Coast Heritage Museum, Swansea

Eric Thomas Gallery Museum, Queenstown

Hutchins Archive and Heritage Collection, Hobart

Scots-Memorial Museum and Heritage, Hobart

Tasmanian Wool Centre, Ross

Exhibition (and Roving) Curators Melissa Smith and Veronica Macno here with TMAGs Elspeth Wishart

Where

146 Artspace

146 Elizabeth Street, Hobart

Season

28 Apr - 2 Jun 2016

Opening hours

Monday               9:00 am - 5:00 pm 

Tuesday               9:00 am - 5:00 pm 

Wednesday        9:00 am - 5:00 pm 

Thursday             9:00 am - 5:00 pm 

Friday                    9:00 am - 5:00 pm 

Closed weekends and public holidays

Ladies' ball dress c 1892 (detail) from the collection of the Devonport Regional Gallery

WINSTON CHURCHILL FELLOWSHIPS IN TASMANIA: the exhibition

Showing @ Burnie Regional Museum

Little Alexander Street

Burnie

Its website is http://www.burnieregionalmuseum.net/Home

Please join us for the opening on Friday 15th of April - 1.00pm

The guest speaker will be ‘fellow’ Geoff Dobson from the Burnie Arts and Function Centre and Burnie Regional Art Gallery . Geoff will speak about his fantastic experiences as a Churchill recipient.

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust was established in 1965 to manage the Fellowship award scheme. The Trust provides an opportunity for Australians to travel overseas to conduct research in their chosen field that is not already available in Australia. Over the 50 years that the Fellows have run, 191 Tasmanians have been awarded fellowships. This exhibition explores the enrichment a handful of these Fellows have brought to the Australian Community.  This is a touring exhibition from the Churchill Fellows’ Association of Tasmania, TMAG and QVMAG. 

Come along to this exhibition. You never know, you or a family member might be a recipient one day. These winners are inspirational Tasmanians. 

Saturday openings

April 16th, 23rd, 30th, and May 7th

10.00am to 4.30pm

 

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust

The Churchill Trust was established in April 1965. The principal object of the Trust is to perpetuate and honour the memory of Sir Winston Churchill by the award of travelling fellowships known as Churchill Fellowships.

The aim of the Churchill Trust is to give opportunity, by the provision of financial support, to Australians from all walks of life who, having exhausted opportunities within Australia, desire to further their search for excellence overseas. There are no prescribed qualifications, academic or otherwise, for the award of most Churchill Fellowships. Merit is the primary test, whether based on past achievements or demonstrated ability for future achievement in any walk of life. The benefit to Australia is a significant factor.

Churchill Fellowships have been awarded in just about every field imaginable. Some examples are:

• Performing Arts Visual Arts Crafts
• Quilting Restoration Conservation
• Agriculture Industry Law
• Medicine Education Pastoral
• Science Policing Sport
• Architecture Town Planning Boat Building
• Sailing Wine Making Horticulture
• Museums Radio Cultural Events
• Education Taxidermy Parks and Gardens

A Churchill Fellowship benefits everyone and everyone is a winner! The individual because their determination, drive and dedication is recognised; their organisation because one of their number recognised for excellence, and Australia because the Churchill Fellow will return with skills and knowledge not readily attainable locally here. More information, including a listing of previous Tasmanian recipients, can be viewed here on the Churchill Fellows Association of Tasmania

History

In 1962 the Duke of Edinburgh asked Sir Winston Churchill, then aged 88, what memorial he would like to be established in his name. Churchill suggested something like the Rhodes Scholarships, but available to all with a much wider base. As a result of this request, a fund-raising exercise was organised with and was prepared to swing into action the moment Churchill died. Sir Winston Churchill died on the 24th January 1965 and the Churchill Memorial Appeal Day occurred on Sunday the 28th February 1965. On the day across all states in Australia, collectors called on homes. All monies collected on that day were banked on that day. banks opened especially for the Appeal Day. The Australian goal was £2.2 million and £4.5 million or the equivalent of $35.2 million in 2007 AUS dollars was raised. A total of 250,000 volunteers fanned out across Australia and knocked on about three million doors between 7pm and 9pm.

The Appeal was the biggest ever single-day fundraiser with 750,000 donation receipts issued on the day. Those funds collected in 1965 and wisely invested, have enabled Fellowships to be awarded in Australia.

Disaster Preparedness Workshop: Its' Time!

Disaster recovery supplies: National Library of Australia. See https://www.nla.gov.au/content/disaster-preparedness-at-the-national-library-of-australia

Floods, fire, errant contractors, carelessness and plumb bad luck can result in a disaster for the collections in your care.  Thinking ahead and being prepared for these events will help you sleep easier and satisfy community concerns, particularly amongst prospective donors.

MAT has places left in its Disaster Preparedness Workshop to be held at QVMAG on the 21-22 April.  Rigorous, cheerful, collegiate and at $75 these workshops are a valued benefit for MAT Members. Even the full price is subsidised and great value. 

Read more about the Workshop here.

Venue and Date

When:    Thursday, 21 April 2016             9:15 am - 5:00 pm
 and       Friday, 22 April, 2016               9:15 am - 4:30 pm
Where:   Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
             – Inveresk, 2 Invermay Road, Launceston

To Register

Download your registration form here.

Cost   (2 day Workshop)

$75 Museums Australia (Tasmania) members

$150 others

Registration is due by Wednesday, 13 April 2016

By phone:    03 6165 6666

By email:     arts.tasmania@arts.tas.gov.au

By post:       Arts Tasmania, 146 Elizabeth Street Hobart TAS 7000