The World Federation of Friends of Museums (WFFM) is an international organisation that connects and supports Friends groups, museum volunteers, and cultural advocates around the world. It promotes the vital role these groups play in strengthening museums through community engagement, fundraising, education, and advocacy. Through global collaboration, shared resources, and international gatherings, WFFM helps Friends organisations champion museums as essential places of learning, connection, and cultural preservation.
The first edition of the World Day of Friends of Museums will take place this year on the second Sunday of October to celebrate the community of 2 million enthusiasts worldwide, under the theme “Your museums, our passion!”
World Day of Friends of Museums on Sunday, 11 October will be a wonderful chance for the Friends of Te Papa to celebrate the work we do throughout the year to support and promote our national museum. Our committee members and volunteers will host a welcoming table in the foyer, where Friends and anyone curious about our organisation can stop by for a chat, learn more, or explore membership. Throughout the day we’ll run one‑hour Back of House: Hidden Corners of the Museum tours with Pete Cunninghame, display entries from our photography competition, announce the winners in the afternoon, and offer an opportunity to win a Te Papa Press book giveaway for anyone who joins the Friends on the day. It’s a chance to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new ones, and celebrate the sense of community that makes the Friends of Te Papa so special.
Photographer in the Museum competition
The Photographer in the Museum competition invites visitors of all ages to explore Te Papa’s public spaces and capture a favourite place or object in a printed photograph no larger than A4. The theme celebrates curiosity, creativity, and personal connection to the museum, encouraging entrants to look closely, notice details, and share what inspires them. Entries are grouped into four categories, ages 3–10, 11–15, 16–19, and Open 20+, with up to three photographs allowed per person, ensuring a welcoming, inclusive competition for emerging and experienced photographers alike.
Pick up your entry form from Te Papa’s Information Hub on Level 2 behind the front desk when you visit to take your photographs and submit your entry either by post (PO Box 467, Wellington, 6011) or by the dropping at the museum front desk. Return your entry by Monday 5 October. There will be a prize for each category winner. Please see below for Terms and Conditions.
Member exclusive Back-of-House: Hidden Corners of the Museum Tours
This is a unique opportunity for Friends members to see the engine rooms that keep the Te Papa building functioning, guided by Pete Cunninghame, Manager Facilities Delivery, who knows this building better than anyone. For Health and Safety, you must be over 16 years of age to participate in this tour. We have three tours departing at 11am - 12pm, 12.30pm – 1.30pm, and 2pm – 3pm. Places are limited to ten people per tour so register your attendance with the office by email stating your name, phone number and membership number and preferred time to friends@tepapa.govt.nz.
Places will fill quickly for this back-of-house adventure so do not hesitate!
Photographer in the Museum Competition Terms and Conditions
· The Friends of Friends of Te Papa, ‘PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE MUSEUM ‘is a competition being run in Te Papa Museum between 15 August to 30 September, 2026.
· The competition is open only to people who complete the application form and have their entry received at the Friends office by 5 October 2026.
· The entry should be a printed photograph. NO digital entries will be accepted
· The work must not exceed A4 at its greatest dimension. There is no minimum size limit.
· The artist will use their own paper and photographic equipment.
· You may enter up to three photos for the ‘PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE MUSEUM’ competition.
· Your entry must be original and entirely your own work completed within the time allocation allowed for the competition.
· There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter.
· There are four entry groups: 3-10y / 11-15y / 16-19yrs and Open
· The entry form forms part of the entry and must be completed by all photographers, including the artist’s name, age if under 16 an adult named contact, plus a contact telephone number and email address.
· Applications must be legible for entry into the competition
· Children under 12 must be supervised at all times in the Museum by an accompanying adult.
· Applicants are welcome to collect their work at the conclusion of the competition.
· The return of artwork after the exhibition is the responsibility of the entrant.
· The Friends reserve the right to dispose of any works after the exhibition that have not been
· collected by the artist within 3 months of the advised collection date.
· The competition will have a ‘guest judges’ who will select the day’s winners, one
· from each entry group.
· The judges shall be appointed by the Friends at its sole discretion. The judges’
· decision shall be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
· Artists will retain copyright in the work that they submit but by entering the
· Competition the artist grants the Friends the rights to reproduce, adapt, modify,
· creative derivative works from, and incorporate their work into other materials
· and to publish and exhibit their work in print, on their respective websites or in
· any other media in perpetuity. No fees will be payable to entrants for any of the
· above uses.
· The Friends will credit photographers in printed and other reproductions of their work
· The artists whose artworks are selected for display agree to the use of his/her
· name in any publicity material, as well as their entry. Any personal data relating
· to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current
· NZ data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without
· the entrant’s prior consent.
· By entering the competition, the entrant (the “Photographer”) accepts these terms and
· conditions as set out hereinafter.