Reuben Friend, Curatorial Intern 2008-09
The Blumhardt Foundation, Creative New Zealand and TheNewDowse have collaborated to create the role of Blumhardt Foundation/Creative New Zealand Curatorial Intern.
The internship provides an important opportunity for an emerging curator or artist to develop curatorial skills and experience on an exhibition project focusing on the decorative arts and design. The intern will research and develop an exhibition for the Blumhardt Gallery’s exhibition programme at TheNewDowse.
Reuben Friend has been awarded the Creative New Zealand-Blumhardt Foundation Curatorial Internship for 2008-09. He will curate the exhibition: Plastic Māori.
"This internship is an amazing opportunity for me to develop my curatorial skills under the guidance of experienced mentors," says Reuben. "Opportunities like this internship are essential to nurture and challenge the next generation of New Zealand curators. This internship will complement and enhance my current study and work in Māori decorative art and design - which I believe has huge potential in terms of the way it is displayed and interpreted in museums and art galleries."
Reuben is of Pakeha and Ngati Maniapoto descent (Tainui), and currently resides in the Wairarapa. He has a Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts and Design from Te Wananga o Aotearoa and is completing a Masters in Māori Visual Arts at Massey University.