Museum 'all about engaging the heart'

Laura Vodanovich is getting to know her staff this week. Photo / Paul Taylor

It is settling-in time for MTG Hawke's Bay's new director, Laura Vodanovich, who says she is looking forward to working with the community in steering the MTG.

"And I'm getting to know Napier - I can find my way here and also to the supermarket," she said.

It was, however, too early to voice any opinions on how and where she would take it.

"I would not want to commit to anything now," she said.

That would come with time - after watching how things operate and getting a clear understanding of the bigger picture.

"This first week is all about meeting and getting to know the staff - and finding my way around," she added with a laugh. She has worked out "the way to my office".

Yesterday was, after all, just her second day on the job which she has taken over from Douglas Lloyd-Jenkins, who stepped down late last year.

"I know Douglas and I will be having a chat with him," she said.

Ms Vodanovich has extensive experience across the realms of curating, staging of exhibits, management and of engaging with communities - the latter a vital part of the whole equation.

"I love the industry because museums add so much to them."

It would be the community, people across the board, who were vital in providing the feedback - of what their expectations for a museum were.

One thing she had long embraced was ensuring museums appealed to all demographics, and particularly the young whose first experience of such a place was crucial in keeping them engaged.

"The young childhood experience of museums is so different these days - it is about building relationships."

The modern museum had to be "an experience" for people.

"When I was growing up you got dragged along to the museum - it was just a boring school experience."

That, she said, had changed.

It was all about engaging the heart as well as the head.

Creating an experience - something relevant and memorable.

The community, across all ages, had to feel a connection - it was not just about putting on something only for tourists hitting town.

Her introduction to the local community on Monday, at her official arrival after two years with the Tairawhiti Museum in Gisborne, was a memorable start.

"The sense of welcome here was wonderful."

Ms Vodanovich will have regular meetings with Napier City Council chief executive officer Wayne Jack to keep the council updated on what is happening and, later, she will look into the storage issue, which she described as a sort of balancing act.

Some museums had everything stored on-site and some, such as Te Papa, did not.

Some overseas museums preferred to store off-site.

"It is something that will be looked at," Ms Vodanovich said.

But for now - it was all about "settling in".