appoints head of kaupapa Māori
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki appears to be recovering from a year made controversial by its landmark contemporary Māori art exhibition and the sudden resignation of its curator.
The gallery has now appointed Te Arepa Morehu (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi) as its inaugural head of kaupapa Māori.
In June the gallery also appointed Thomas Irvine of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei as deputy director.
That appointment came just months after the gallery’s curator Māori, Nigel Borell (Pirirākau, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Te Whakatōhea) resigned soon after the opening of a landmark survey of contemporary Māori art, Toi Tū Toi Ora. Borell cited irreconcilable differences with the gallery’s director, Kirsten Lacy, with whom he had worked closely on Toi Tū Toi Ora.
Other resignations followed and half the gallery’s Māori advisory board stood down.
Link to article: Auckland Art Gallery appoints head of kaupapa Māori | Te Ao Māori News (teaomaori.news)
