Stout Research Centre for New Zealand Studies

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Casimar - Exhibitions Registrar

Casimar is the City Gallery's Exhibitions Registrar, having previously been the Curator of Collections at the NZ Police Museum.

Exhibitions Registrar, City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi

Casimar

I wanted to work in museums and galleries for a while before applying to do Museum & Heritage Studies, I knew it wasn't an easy industry to find work in; the Masters degree was my way in. I finished early in 2011, having worked part time for the Museum of Wellington City & Sea (Wellington Museum), City Gallery Wellington, and even briefly for DoC cataloguing man-made objects found on Matiu/Somes Island.

After graduating I didn't know what to expect but was pleased to  be offered the position of Displays & Collections Assistant at Parliament. This was different to the average museum, with a lot of it being a working collection, with other priorities around the precinct. When working somewhere the core business isn't museum-related there are always challenges; learning to how and when to compromise is a very important skill. There is an amazing collection at Parliament comprised of historic items, artworks, and gifts, as well as an exhibition space in which I had a lot of fun installing exhibitions and working with artists from around the country.

In April 2015 I became the Curator of Collections at the New Zealand Police Museum. This was a great opportunity, working within a newly refurbished collection environment and exploring New Zealand's Policing history. While working on the collection, I never knew what might be next - from uniforms to files to criminal evidence. The collection is vast and has many challenges while dealing with it, but it is very rewarding caring for such important taonga.

Most recently, in 2018, I moved to the City Gallery Wellington as the Exhibitions Registrar, moving to an institution with no collection at all. Learning the skills of a registrar while working with amazing art from all over New Zealand and the world keeps me busy and happy. Museum & Heritage Studies has taken me to some unexpected places, I could never have imagined the variety so far.