Move in safe hands with new recruits

The Sarjeant s new transition assistants, from left, Kimberley Stephenson, Jessica Kidd, Ben Davis and Te Maari Barham

Preparations are well under way to move the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui's nationally significant collection to its new temporary home at Sarjeant on the Quay thanks largely to the gallery's new team of collection transition assistants.

The team whose temporary roles have been supported by funding from the Lottery Grants Board were recruited in April to assist with moving the more than 5500 artworks to safety while the gallery's original Queen's Park building undergoes crucial earthquake-strengthening and redevelopment work.

Gallery senior curator Greg Anderson says it's a massive undertaking to prepare and move a collection of the Sarjeant's size and diversity and that - even with the transition assistants' help - it's likely to take about 21 months.

"And it all needs to be done in a way that meets the highest standards of care to account for the importance and worth of the collections," he said.

"We took care to recruit people who have a balance of practical and academic experience and a passion for art, as well as specific experience with collection moves."

Wanganui-born Jessica Kidd graduated from Massey University with a post-graduate diploma in museum studies and was familiar with the Sarjeant collection having been a regular volunteer at the gallery during the course of her study. She gained further experience while employed on a short-term contract with the Whanganui Regional Museum working on its World War I collection.

Ben Davis and Te Maari Barham (both originally from Taranaki) relocated here from Auckland leaving museum and gallery roles to take up the Sarjeant positions. Kimberley Stephenson, originally from Wellington, left a position at the MTG Hawke's Bay, also having gained experience with the moving of a collection in that gallery's refurbishment.

"We had a hard time choosing four successful candidates as we received nearly 130 applications - many of high calibre - from people across New Zealand and overseas. We even had people apply from South America, Canada and Japan.

"The fact that people from around the world would jump at the chance to move to Wanganui to take up a temporary role to help move the gallery's collections is a clear indication that the Sarjeant and its collections are recognised and valued far and wide," Mr Anderson said.

"With their help we can ensure the collections are re-housed safely."

Image 1 of 16: An historic building on Taupo Quay has been refurbished for the Sarjeant Gallery's temporary premises.