Book Launch for Trust Waikato Art & Taonga Collection

Book launch for Trust Waikato Art and Taonga Collection

Trust Waikato is today launching a new book, Treasures of the Waikato, which showcases the Trust Waikato Art and Taonga Collection.

“The Trust is extremely proud to share this book which showcases the rare and beautiful artwork of the region”, says Trust Waikato Chief Executive, Dennis Turton. “It records and displays the efforts of hundreds of artists, from photography of significant events, to paintings by renowned artists, and historical taonga from our past.”

The collection began in 1999 to ensure that art and taonga of significance to the Waikato remain in the region. Valued at $1.92 million, and comprising over 260 pieces, the collection is a tribute to the talent of many local artists.

In 1999, the Trust became aware that pieces of art and artefacts – taonga significant to our region – tended to be held in public and private collections outside of the region. To ensure that artworks of importance remained in the Waikato, the Trust began purchasing, out of its operational funding, artworks and taonga.

Dr Ann McEwan, the Trust’s art adviser and the book’s author, says that “the art and taonga of the Waikato have often been overlooked in national histories of art and visual culture. This book celebrates the treasures of the region and curates the collection in to a number of themes that showcase the beauty, history, and mana of the Waikato.”

In September 2015, following a review by the Trust Waikato Board the Trust gifted the Trust Waikato Art and Taonga Collection to the Waikato Museum, via Hamilton City Council, the owner of the museum. Trust Waikato recognises the role of kaitiakitanga that Waikato Museum has in looking after taonga from the region, and is grateful that the collection is properly conserved in museum conditions.

Through exhibitions and growing the collection, Waikato Museum can keep this important collection alive and is able to share these treasures and history with the wider community.

“Waikato Museum and Trust Waikato both hold dear the value of preserving our region’s artistic vibrancy and cultural heritage for future generations,” says Waikato Museum Director, Cherie Meecham. “It is our privilege to be kaitiaki of these precious artworks and taonga, and connect them with the public whose history and lives they reflect.”

The book is available online as an ebook, and will also be distributed to key libraries in the region.

ENDS

About Trust Waikato

• Trust Waikato’s vision is for resilient and vibrant Waikato communities.

• The Trust is in year one of its 2017-2027 Strategic Plan and key outcomes include: o Communities are engaged and connected

o Communities are vibrant and resilient

o Transformational change for vulnerable children, young people and families

o Small communities are connected and resilient

o An effective, agile and collaborative community sector

• In 2016-17 the Trust approved over $11.6million in donations to 646 community projects around the region.

• The Trust is a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). The PRI provide an aspirational set of guidelines for ensuring that environmental, social and governance issues are taken into account by investors.

• The Trust has set a donations budget of over $11 million for 2017-18.

• There are three funding rounds every year and groups are encouraged to apply for donations at www.trustwaikato.co.nz

© Scoop Media