16 Jun 2014
The Dowse Art Museum is delighted this week to welcome Bridget Reweti, the 2014 recipient of the Creative New Zealand / Blumhardt Foundation curatorial internship, to their team.
Bridget (Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāi te Rangi) is a recent graduate of Victoria University’s Museum and Heritage Studies course, and holds a Masters of Māori Visual Arts from Te Putahi-a-Toi, Massey University. She is also a practising artist and member of the Mata Aho Collective, a group of contemporary Māori artists whose show ‘Kaokao’ has just opened at Wellington’s Toi Poneke Gallery.
The purpose of the CNZ / Blumhardt Foundation curatorial internship is to give the recipient an opportunity to develop curatorial skills, particularly in applied art and design, by creating an exhibition for The Dowse’s programme to be shown in the Blumhardt Gallery.
Bridget plans to use the internship as an opportunity to explore the relationships between Western traditions of applied arts practice and customary Māori art. In addition to working on all aspects of the exhibition-making process (from concept to exhibition design to education and public programmes), the recipient is also encouraged to strengthen and expand their network of professional contacts, and to develop their knowledge of New Zealand’s craft and applied art history through spending time with The Dowse’s staff and outstanding collection.
The Dowse director Courtney Johnston says “The CNZ / Blumhardt Foundation is a rare opportunity for a person new to the world of curating to be supported in developing a significant exhibition for a major public gallery. Most internships offer recipients a chance to work on the host organisation’s existing projects: this is a distinct and therefore highly desirable opportunity for a new voice in the art and craft sector to make themselves heard.”
Kaye McKinlay, chair of the Blumhardt Foundation, expressed the Foundation’s appreciation of the on-going support of Creative New Zealand as a partner in the internship. “This is the seventh time the internship has been offered, and we are thrilled with Bridget’s appointment. Her background as a practising artist and graduate of Massey’s highly regarded Māori Visual Arts programme give her a unique perspective to offer to the internship and The Dowse.
“The internship continues to go from strength to strength, as demonstrated by the 2013 curatorial intern Emma Ng’s appointment this year as the director of Enjoy Public Art Gallery. The Foundation welcomes Bridget warmly to The Dowse family and looks forward to seeing her development as a curator as she develops her exhibition, which is scheduled for early 2015.”
For media enquiries please contact:
Katrina Smit, Communications & Relationships Manager, The Dowse
E: katrina.smit@huttcity.govt.nz
M: 027 777 7127
CATEGORIES: Fellowships awards and residencies, Funding for individuals Latest news and blog
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