People can now explore Waipā’s public art collection online.
Waipā District Council cares for nearly 100 artworks – all of which have been donated or commissioned over the last 80 years. The collection includes both indoor and outdoor artworks, such as murals, carvings, mosaics, paintings, sculptures, photographs and other art mediums.
Museums and heritage director Anne Blyth said the indoor collection features remarkable pieces telling the history of the district, but due to both limited appropriate locations and as part of good art management, the council cannot physically display the entire collection at once. By making the collection accessible online, people can now view it at any time.
“Our art collection is an important part of our history and culture, telling the stories of the district from as early as 1860,” Blyth said. “It includes works gifted by local iwi as well as pieces from local and international artists.”
A brochure has also been created showcasing the 29 artworks in the outdoor collection, encouraging people to discover art around the district. Notable works include the iconic bronze mare and foal sculpture outside Cambridge Town Hall, pieces in Te Awamutu’s Sculpture Park, and pou at Mātakitaki Pā in Pirongia.
The outdoor collection also includes five pieces by acclaimed sculptor Fred Graham (Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, Waikato-Tainui), who was recently appointed Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to Māori arts.
“Discovering the outdoor art is a great activity for whānau – use the brochure to check out how many pieces you can find while exploring the district,” Blyth added.
As part of the 2021-31 Long Term Plan, a budget was allocated to manage the collection. Since then, work has included:
- a full inventory of all artworks including research into artwork provenance
- condition assessments and preventative conservation
- updated market valuations of indoor artworks
- recommendations on the retention or removal of artworks, and
- developing a comprehensive management plan for the collection's care.
Waipā’s public art can be viewed online at tamuseum.org.nz/publicart, or visitors can pick up a brochure from the Te Awamutu Museum or one of the council offices.
