Style: September 01, 2022

Style | Art 69
She has also been secretary for the Colin McCahon Research & Publication Trust,
which represents another artist who has strong connections with Dunedin.
“There are significant holdings of his work here and the papers of Colin and Anne
are held here too – there are lots of friends in this collection for me.”
In her new role at the Hocken, Catherine wants to build on the work she did at the
Auckland War Memorial Museum enhancing its connections with the community.
“I’d love to see us enhance it here at the Hocken.”
While the collection has a strong national profile there is heaps of potential to
strengthen that connection with its local community.
“At this stage I’m learning and getting the sense of who uses us, what our audiences
are and what our programmes are.”
The extensive nature of the Hocken Collections means there is a lot to learn and
she is starting from scratch in lots of ways.
“It’s a great privilege and a lot of fun. You meet some old friends and make some
new ones.”
She knows there is always an anticipation of change when a new leader starts at
an organisation. “Being relevant is really important, how the Hocken can be relevant
to academics and students at the university and wider community so we develop
programmes to make it happen.”
Having undertaken a large digital
project around cataloguing the Frances
Hodgkins’ collection, she knows there
is a lot that institutions can do in the
digital space.
“I think we can make the collections
come alive online for people. Covid has
shown us the digital space has become
very important for researchers. We have
a wonderful in-person service but I think
there is lots we can do online. That will
certainly be a focus for me.”
Catherine has also brought a project
with her – a collaborative project with
the memorial museum and Turnbull
Library on a show of the very first early
photographs of New Zealand. She is also
editing a book on the exhibition.
“That will be a really nice project to
get my teeth into the collections here
and really learn them.”
While Catherine has taken a few
steps sideways over the years working
for New Zealand Tourism in Los Angeles
and doing a law degree, she has always
found her way back to library and
collection work.
“I love that world and exhibitions
and publishing are another love of mine
– how you can share a collection with
people in all the different ways and bring
them alive.”
But she also discovered a love of
managing people when she was given her
first opportunity at the Auckland War
Memorial Museum.
“I discovered I loved helping other
people achieve. It’s very satisfying.”
So her new job ticks all the boxes.
Once her family joins her, all will be
complete. She has a son finishing
secondary school in Auckland this year,
but Catherine hopes they will be settled
in by the end of the year.
A carefully curated
collection of original
art and artisan giftware.
Celebrating artists from
NZ and Australia
with an emphasis on
South Canterbury.
77 Main Street Fairlie, South Canterbury | artandliving77@icloud.com
+64 3 325 1944
littlerivergallery.com
art@littlerivergallery.com
Main Rd, Little River 7591
SANCTUARY
03 - 27
Sept 2022
OPENING
03 Sept 11am
JANE DOWNES
AND
KIRSTY NIXON