Join the Friends as Head of New Zealand and Pacific Cultures Dr Bronwyn Labrum and Curator Katie Cooper introduce the latest publication from Te Papa Press and a new exhibition commemorating Suffrage 125.
It’s 125 years since New Zealand women won the right to vote, but the battle for the right to so much more is ongoing. Edited by Bronwyn Labrum, Women Now: The Legacy of Female Suffrage brings together provocative, insightful and energetically argued essays by 12 leading New Zealand writers and thinkers, based around objects from Te Papa’s collection – large and small, everyday and creative. In this talk Bronwyn will discuss how the book originated and the hugely satisfying process of commissioning some of New Zealand’s leading writers – female and male – to write in inspiring ways about these critical issues.
Dr Labrum pictured with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
The exhibition, Doing It for Themselves: Women Fight for Equality, features objects from the book as well as new items acquired this year. It honours women who have fought, and continue to fight, for gender equality, and showcases some of the tools they have used to make their voices heard. Curator Katie Cooper will take us through the exhibition, sharing the stories of the objects and the process of curating the exhibition.
Katie Cooper, Curator History
Katie Cooper’s research interest is the material culture of domestic life, focusing in particular on nineteenth-century New Zealand. She is also engaged in ongoing research into the social and cultural history of rural New Zealand.
Dr Bronwyn Labrum is widely published in the social and cultural history of New Zealand and the history of clothing and fashion, museums, collecting and exhibitions, and designed objects and artefacts. She has lengthy experience in research management and the practice of public history.
Tea, coffee and cake will be served in the reading room after the talk with Bronwyn and Katie available to answer questions.
Feature Image: Detail from: Women’s Social and Political Union Medal for Valour, 1912, England, by Toye & Co. Purchased 2016. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Te Papa (GH024772)