7 minute read
Focus on our collection
Foundation ends the financial year on a high note
Despite facing the same challenges as all cultural institutions in these COVID-19 times, the Australian National Maritime Museum Foundation has been able to expand on the museum’s collection, and has gone from strength to strength. The museum Foundation’s Head of Acquisitions Development, Daina Fletcher, reports.
Exhibition view of Mariw Minaral featuring works of art by Alick Tipoti donated by Christine Sadler (an Honorary Ambassador to the museum), Alick Tipoti and the Foundation. Exhibition dates extended to 2022. ANMM image
THE PAST 18 MONTHS has seen some of the most challenging times for the museum in its 30-year history. In the midst of the dislocation caused by the global pandemic we have made great efforts to build even stronger connections with our audiences, members and supporters, across the country and around the globe. Readers might think that the Foundation’s sole purpose is to raise funds, but our scope is much wider. Throughout 2020–21 – certainly years to remember – the Foundation has involved itself in sourcing and acquiring historic objects and significant works of art; supporting the conservation, interpretation and operation of vessels at the museum’s wharves; working with migrant communities to record and present their stories; and partnering with big-hearted benefactors who wish to make a significant contribution via donation, bequest or gifts-in-kind. Thank you! The Australian National Maritime Museum Foundation was reshaped this past year with the appointment of VIP Manager, Matt Lee, and Head of Acquisitions Development, Daina Fletcher. Our role is to work with our supporter communities to develop and showcase the National Maritime Collection and promote how our curators, collection managers, designers and interpreters tell Australia’s stories. Significantly, this past year has seen many major initiatives by donors to support the acquisition and exhibition of important historic material, special objects and works of art. They cover the cultural practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as well as the kaleidoscope of settler cultures around Australia.
This support is incredibly important to the museum for it is both a catalyst and an enabler. The wonderful support of our donors, big and small, makes these exhibitions possible. Mariw Minaral (Spiritual Patterns) is a major exhibition launched last year with the support of the Foundation and key benefactors such as Christine Sadler of the Sid Faithfull and Christine Sadler Program. It features the work of Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Islander) artist, Alick Tipoti, whose art is centred on the seas, cosmologies and stories of his community. This impressive exhibition featured a number of works donated by supporters and also by Alick Tipoti himself through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program. In addition, the Sid Faithfull and Christine Sadler Program has further strengthened its commitment by funding the development of an immersive multimedia experience by an innovative team of creatives and Elders from the Yolŋu community of north-east Arnhem Land, known as The Mulka Project. The gift is a high note marking the year’s end, and the work will be at the centre of a new visitor experience to be launched next year. The gallery will explore the deep histories of land, sea and sky. A highlight of the year has been in the area of Australia’s defence history in the gift of funds to support the purchase of a collection of historic material relating to the life of Lieutenant Hubert Edward ‘Ted’ Carse and his involvement in Operation Jaywick in 1943. Carse was the navigator who motored MV Krait to Singapore to disembark its commando team for a clandestine and bold raid on enemy shipping. This collection was made possible with the support of the Australian Government through the National Cultural Heritage Account and the generosity of the families of Ted Carse’s brothers. It has recently been put on display in the museum’s Navy Gallery as a keynote of Australian maritime operations during World War II. A milestone gift is the photographic collection of ocean conservation pioneers Ron and Valerie Taylor, gifted to the museum by Valerie Taylor AM. Other gifts in the realm of ocean science include the contemporary data collection vessel, the Australiandesigned and built uncrewed surface vehicle, Ocius Nemo, currently being prepared for exhibition in One Ocean – Our Future.
01 The luxury steam yacht Ena boasts exquisite Edwardian details. ANMM image 02 Members of the Chairman’s Circle and volunteers work the ropes on Duyfken, a donation to museum from The Duyfken 1606 Foundation supported by the ANMM Foundation. Image Matt Lee/ANMM
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In addition to donations of money or significant objects, we deeply appreciate all bequests made in support of our mission and understand the sensitivity surrounding gifts of this nature. This year we have received several bequest pledges, including: • The remarkable replica Harrison chronometers made by Mr Norman Banham, of which replicas H1 and H4 are currently exhibited on loan in our Under Southern
Skies gallery, which explores navigation and voyaging by European and First Nations peoples. • A bequest from Maryland USA in support of the
HMB Endeavour replica. Support for our waterborne exhibits through the Foundation is critical. Our wharves are special places, with huge potential to excite audiences through vessel displays and events connected with them. Visitors can go on board or, at special times, sail. The vessels’ themes cover leisure sailing, world voyaging, immigration and defence history, especially on Krait (jointly managed with the Australian War Memorial), the destroyer HMAS Vampire and submarine HMAS Onslow. The vessels have high conservation and operational demands, and private support is a key factor in their success. Other greatly valued gifts were: • A customised air-conditioning system for HMAS Onslow designed and installed by Mr Ashak Nathwani, with funds from the Nathwani family in honour of the late Mrs Samin Nathwani. The system will enable the vessel to be opened to visitors on very hot days. • This year the replica Endeavour has been joined at the wharves by the Dutch replica vessel Duyfken, a gift from The Duyfken 1606 Foundation, with funds for its transfer to the museum supported by the Australian
National Maritime Museum Foundation. Together, the vessels flesh out the story of early European voyaging to Australia.
• The graceful SY Ena, an elegant 1899 steam yacht.
Gifted to the museum by John and Jacqui Mullen,
Ena adds a touch of style and elegance to our maritime profile and offers opportunities for supporter engagement sailing. The museum has developed a supporter group to conserve and fund
SY Ena. A community is now congregating around this elegant Edwardian vessel, along with significant gifts to the conservation fund from regular supporters David and Jennie Sutherland. Funds were directed to the first phase of deck replacement, with the vessel soon due for slipway maintenance. In recognition of their support, the museum council endorsed Dr David Sutherland, Mrs Jennie Sutherland and Mr Norman Banham as honorary museum Ambassadors and Ms Valerie Taylor AM as an Honorary Fellow. Once again, we thank them for their tremendous support! The museum always looks to recognise its audiences, supporters, visitors and viewers more broadly in our exhibitions and programs and this year one of our major initiatives has focused on the stories and lives of the settler cultures among us: migrants and their descendants. Another big exhibition initiative this year was a powerful interactive experience entitled A Mile in My Shoes, which presented visitors with the stories of 35 migrants to Australia, while walking or wearing their shoes. Developed with the Empathy Museum in the United Kingdom, this program created new ground for the museum as an outdoor performative audience experience. On Harmony Day, 21 March, Australia’s National Monument to Migration – formerly named the Welcome Wall – was christened by the Governor-General of Australia, His Excellency, General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSD (Retd) at a ceremony honouring close to 850 migrants, more than 400 of whom donated to the Foundation’s Migration Heritage Fund. This fund supports acquisitions and programs related to migrant histories including the National Monument to Migration. While the year has certainly been challenging, it has been extremely rewarding as we reach out to our audiences with tailored programming amid the uncertainty of the current pandemic. We have so much planned for the coming year, so why not get involved? To find out more please visit our website sea.museum/ support/donate
Your support is our strength!
If reading this article has inspired you to want to do more to support the museum and to become involved in the Foundation and its activities, we would love to hear from you. Why not consider joining the Chairman’s Circle or the Ena Sanctum? Donating historic objects, funds or making a bequest makes you eligible to take part in the Foundation’s activities, including special talks, behind-the-scenes tours, vessel cruises and exclusive launch opportunities. If you would like to support the museum or hear more about our Foundation programs, please contact Daina Fletcher, the Foundation’s Head of Acquisitions Development at daina.fletcher@sea.museum or Matt Lee, VIP manager at matt.lee@sea.museum or by phone on 02 9298 3777. All gifts are tax deductible.
