After 28 years of supporting talented young photographers, the Ronald Woolf Memorial Trust is taking a new and exciting direction.
Three generations of the late Ronald Woolf’s family, trustees and University representatives gathered to sign the agreement that formally endowed the Memorial Trust to the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation.
The endowment marks a new era for the Trust, which was established in 1987 after a helicopter accident took the life of the celebrated Wellington photographer Ronald Woolf.
Ronald’s daughter, Deborah Hart, says the Trust has given over $130,000 in grants in its lifetime, but it was time to explore other avenues to administer the funds and develop the Trust’s work.
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences Professor Jennifer Windsor says the University is “very honoured and privileged” to be chosen as the Trust’s caretakers.
“We’re gratified because we think it means a lot to Wellington, and a lot to students.
“The University is well placed to foster an understanding of photography and its evolution through time, and to mentor the next generation of photographic historians, curators and students of photography,” she says.
The Foundation, in conjunction with Victoria’s Art History programme and Adam Art Gallery, has proposed a number of new initiatives for how the Trust can be developed. Initiatives may include establishing an Honour’s or Master’s level photographic history course, commissioning a photographic project and enabling students to attend conferences or prepare exhibitions.
Deborah says the endowment is a “very big deal for the family and for those who’ve worked to safeguard the Trust”.
“During his lifetime, dad envisioned a trust to support young photographers. He would have been really honoured to have an endowment at this university.
“We’ve got a lot of faith in the University to look after the funds and expand on his vision.”
