Received this this morning
By Ted Greenberg
22 February 2011
The latest from Christchurch is very grim, however, we have not heard of anyone being hurt in museums or galleries there. We have received a number of messages of support, and these are in the ‘Messages for Canterbury’ Discussion Board on our Facebook page here. Please add your own messages, and hopefully our colleagues in Christchurch will be able to access the page when their power and communications are restored.
We understand that most of the damage this time is confined to the city and Lyttelton areas. Here is what we have heard about Christchurch institutions so far.
Air Force Museum
Staff are all OK. Other details not yet known, but we hope the damage at Wigram is less than in the central city area.
Akaroa Museum
Is unaffected this time, all are OK.
Arts Centre of Christchurch
No direct word, but news and internet photos show significant damage.
Canterbury Museum: Closed Until Further Notice :(
Canterbury Museum
Staff are all OK. Apparently the sprinklers were activated and lots of loose things moved around in the staff areas. The situation in the public and storage areas is unknown but presumed to be ‘a mess’ and some bits have fallen off the building. With the whole central city cordoned off, they do not expect to get back in until after the weekend. The museum server is completely out of action so no staff will be able to access their work e-mails, even from outside the museum.
Centre of Contemporary Art (CoCA)
No information as yet.
Christchurch Art Gallery
Staff all safe, apparently no structural damage – ‘we’re in good shape considering all that has happened’. CAG is once again starring on TV news as the Civil Defence HQ. No information about the exhibits or collections as yet.
Lyttelton Museum
Has been closed since the September earthquake, and apparently suffered additional damage on Boxing Day. We have no information as yet, but fear it is now even worse.
Okains Bay Museum
Is unaffected this time, all are OK.
Our City O-Tautahi
This was in the Municipal Chambers building which suffered damage last September and was still closed to the public. It is now apparently completely ruined.
The Physics Room
All staff are safe, don’t expect to get back to their building to assess it for some while.
Timeball Station (NZHPT)
Is severely damaged, but thankfully both staff members there at the time of the quake got out safely. No news yet about the collection items which have been stored offsite since the September earthquake.
We have also heard that Lincoln Entomology Museum, Landcare Herbarium, Ashburton area museums, as well as South Canterbury Museum are ok.
We know that this information is only about the public face of these museums, and many staff will have huge challenges ahead with their own homes and families. Our thoughts and best wishes go to all our colleagues.
Kia kaha,
Phillipa and Sophie
Tags: Air Force Museum, Akaroa Museum, Arts Centre of Christchurch, Ashburton Museum, Canterbury Earthquake, Canterbury Museum, Centre of Contemporary Art (CoCA), Christchurch Art Gallery, Landcare Herbarium, Lincoln Entomology Museum, Lyttelton Museum, Lyttelton Timeball Station, Okains Bay Museum, Our City O-Tautahi, South Canterbury Museum, The Physics Room
Comments
Best wishes to all in Christchurch - as a UK visitor a few years ago I loved your museums, and hope that both people and objects are all OK. Thank you so much for this website information - had been looking for something on the survival of the Museums. Is there a particular museum-recovery fund for contributions?
Can anyone comment on the status of the historic observatory at the Christchurch Arts Center after the most recent earthquake? Has the famous Cooke telescope there been damaged?
A message from the Australian National Maritime Museum to all the affected museums, and particularly to Anthony Wright and our colleagues at the Canterbury Museum and to let them know that we're thinking of them. Please let us know if we can assist -
Inger Sheil
Although the tyranny of distance makes it difficult for us to lend a practical helping hand, we would like to extend our thoughts and support to our colleagues in the many Art Galleries and Museums in the Christchurch, Canterbury region.
All the team at Museum of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS, Ted!!!
Thank you so much for posting this information on your website. It is a comfort to those at a distance. I wish you all the best and hope to lend a hand raising money for repairs when the time comes.
Brisbane, Australia
Thank you for posting this information. I've visited so many of these places over the years I've been coming to Christchurch and the surrounding region and hae enjoyed the window into the region they have given. My very best and most heartfelt wishes go out to all Cantabrians at this time. I shall watch out for more information about these institutions over the coming months.
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