Thank you so much for your support. We've extended our Givealittle campaign to help bring this must-do Nelson Tasman project over-the-line! Spread the word and help Nelson Provincial Museum give our history a home - the new ARC Facility.
You may have seen a recent article about ARC in the Nelson Mail. Unfortunately, construction of the Archives Research & Collections Facility (ARC) has been delayed because of the closure of the government’s Regional Culture & Heritage Fund.
However, the Tasman Bays Heritage Trust Board and museum staff are committed to this ‘must-do’ project and are doing everything possible to secure alternative funding.
We are incredibly grateful to Tasman District and Nelson City Councils, Rātā Foundation and all the grant funders, trusts and individuals for their financial contributions and ongoing support for this essential project for our region. This is only a pause.
Please be assured that all existing donations are held in a separate account away from the operating funds of the museum, and will remain there until construction on the ARC begins. Meanwhile, our amazing staff work around the clock at Isel to keep our collections safe and protected.
Thank you for your ongoing support while we work through this delay.
Ngā manaakitanga
Lucinda Jimson, CEO
Kia ora
I'm Lucinda Blackley-Jimson, Chief Executive of Nelson Provincial Museum. I'm reaching out to you today with an urgent plea for your support.
Our museum, the oldest in New Zealand, houses over 200,000 precious taonga valued at more than $20 million. These irreplaceable items tell the story of our region and our people. But right now, they're at significant risk.
"We've got to get out of here," I've said about our current collection facility. It's not an exaggeration - we are genuinely close to losing our collection if we don't act soon. Our aging facility is flood-prone, leaking, and vulnerable to earthquake damage. It's no longer fit for purpose, putting our taonga and our dedicated team at risk.
That's why we're embarking on an ambitious project to build a new Archives, Research & Collection (ARC) facility. This state-of-the-art building will not only protect our collection but also make it more accessible to researchers, students, and the public. It will be a place where our community can connect with its past and where our taonga can inspire future generations.
We need your help to make this vision a reality. Your donation, no matter the size, will make a significant difference.
Together, we can build a facility that will house our collection and preserve it for generations to come.
Please, join us in this vital mission.
Ngā mihi nui
Lucinda Blackley-Jimson
"Creating a safe space for our collection is giving our history a home for our children and their children and the generations to come."
Meet some of the museum team who are protecting your history, and hear about the ARC project, and what it means for the future.
A Rātā Foundation grant has tipped funds raised over the halfway mark for our new museum building!
Nelson Provincial Museum's Archives Research and Collections (ARC) facility is one step closer to construction thanks to a grant of half a million dollars from Rātā Foundation. To be located on Church Street in Nelson’s city centre, the new ARC facility will ensure the Nelson Tasman regional heritage collection, currently in the damaged Isel Park Research facility, is cared for appropriately and is easily accessible to the community.
Rātā Foundation Chief Executive Leighton Evans says the South Island funder is pleased to support Nelson Provincial Museum to share the unique history and heritage of the region.
“This new facility will bring students, whānau and the community closer to the history of Nelson-Tasman, improving learning opportunities and connection to important taonga,” says Evans.
“We look forward to walking alongside Nelson Provincial Museum as they create a more accessible, fit-for-purpose space to protect and share their heritage collection, fostering a sense of belonging and cultural connection.”
