Talofa lava Friends!
As early winter settles in, it’s the perfect moment to treat yourself to something uplifting. Our upcoming events offer a welcoming space to step out of the cold and enjoy art, ideas, and good company. We warmly encourage you to explore what’s ahead and book an experience that brightens the season.
First, if you have been intending to register for the History and Heritage Coromandel Tour please be aware that bookings close on June 8, so get in quick! Discover the Coromandel Peninsula’s stunning landscapes, rich Māori and early European heritage on this immersive seven‑day journey. Book now to avoid missing out!
Why do Museums matter? This June, we’re delighted to offer two thought‑provoking sessions that open very different, but deeply connected, windows into the world of museums.
On June 19, Associate Professor Diana Burton takes us inside the investigative journeys behind two extraordinary antiquities in Theft and Forgery at Victoria University’s Classics Museum: a Roman portrait head now facing repatriation, and a child’s sarcophagus later exposed as a modern forgery. Their hidden histories reveal the ethical, scholarly, and cultural responsibilities museums carry when caring for taonga from the ancient world. Join us if you’re drawn to provenance, and the afterlives of objects.
On June 25, Sarah Hopkinson, Head of Learning at Te Papa, leads a reflective session on the vital role museums play in Aotearoa’s education ecosystem. In Growing Museum Learning Sarah explores how embodied, socially connected learning can spark creativity, strengthen community, and support young people and teachers to flourish. It’s an inspiring look at how museums shape futures as much as they preserve histories.
Both events invite us to think differently about what museums do—and why they matter. We’d love to see you there as we explore these rich, timely conversations together.
As the colder months settle in, July brings three richly engaging sessions to spark curiosity and warm the spirit. Together they offer fresh perspectives on public art, sculpture, and photography — each one an invitation to connect with ideas, stories, and the creative life of Aotearoa.
First, on July 1, Wellington Writers Walk New Sculpture welcomes chair Philippa Werry and committee member Tracy Farr, who will introduce the new sculpture to be unveiled for Matariki 2026, the first in te reo Māori and the first addition in more than a decade, exploring its design, text, placement, and how it enriches the kaupapa of the Walk.
Second, on July 23, we turn to the heat of the foundry with Sculpture at 1100 Degrees. Wellington-based bronze sculptor Jonathan Campbell, whose narrative-rich practice spans over thirty years, offers an inside look at the processes, challenges, and craft behind bronze casting. Drawing on decades at the furnace, he’ll share stories, techniques, and the alchemy that transforms raw material into enduring form.
Third, on July 28, members are invited to a special behind-the-scenes conversation with Lissa Mitchell, Te Papa Curator Historical Documentary (Photography), in her Slow Burn: Women and Photography Curator’s Talk. Lissa will discuss the intentions and ideas shaping this major new exhibition, which brings together 170 works by 50 women and non-binary artists. Together we’ll explore how these photographs speak to identity, whānau, place, and the intergenerational connections that define contemporary photographic practice in Aotearoa.
Later, on 23 August, we welcome distinguished arts educator Charlie Hall for Peggy Guggenheim: A Life of Collecting, a vivid journey through the remarkable life of one of modern art’s most unconventional figures. His blend of scholarship and storytelling promises an engaging, memorable encounter with a woman who helped reshape twentieth‑century art.
Finally, on the eve of Matariki, we invite Friends to come together for a shared meal that celebrates connection, kai, and the joy of gathering as a community. Join us on Thursday 9 July at 12.30pm for a convivial three‑course Mid-Winter Lunch at Le Bouillon Bel Air on Tory Street, where classic French comfort dishes are served with Parisian flair. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow members and enjoy sparkling conversation over a leisurely mid‑winter lunch. The cost is $73 and places are limited so please email the office at [email protected] to secure your seat at the table.
As you look through the events ahead, we hope one, or several, catch your eye and offer a moment of inspiration to look forward to this winter. Each gathering is crafted to bring our community together in meaningful, enriching ways, and we’d be delighted to welcome you along!
Fa‘amanuia atu,
Rachael Brenton-Rule – Coordinator
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Above image: Dr Burton at Victoria University Classics Museum, Gerry Keating, VUW Image Services.