Auckland Museum wins three awards at Rainbow Excellence

The first cultural institution in New Zealand to receive the Rainbow Tick, Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum is delighted to have won the Innovation Award, the Executive Leadership Award and the Supreme Award at today’s Rainbow Excellence Awards.

The inaugural Rainbow Excellence Awards bring together current and aspiring Rainbow Tick-certified organisations to showcase best practice and celebrate exceptional progress.

Catherine Smith, Auckland Museum’s Director of People and Organisation and leader of AM Pride, Auckland Museum’s Pride network, says it’s wonderful to be recognised as an organisation that respects, welcome and values the Rainbow Community.

“We're committed to sharing the stories of our Rainbow Communities, ensuring that Rainbow voices are heard, valued and celebrated - both in our workplace and also within our collections, galleries and public programmes.”

“Museums share the stories of people and place. We've been working to collect relevant objects that tell LGBTQI stories. I'm really excited that our new Tāmaki Stories gallery opening next July will feature for the first time, objects that share Rainbow histories, stories and experiences .”

Rainbow Excellence Awards Director, Martin King, says “Auckland Museum is a very worthy finalist. Their focus on sharing and including LBGTI stories in their Tāmaki Stories Gallery is a great step toward ensuring Auckland’s history of diversity is recorded. Their work has been heartfelt and broad reaching.”

Auckland Museum has also taken a leadership role in the creation of the Rainbow Museum’s Network and is committed to actively sharing knowledge to support other cultural institutions to improve inclusivity and employee experience.

Catherine says Auckland Museum’s active AM Pride group has been instrumental in helping the Museum to improve its inclusivity.

“Our AM Pride Group, with the full support of our Trust Board and Executive Team, have been able to influence initiatives such as the acquisition of Rainbow items into the Museum’s collections, the histories included in the new Tamaki Stories gallery, the inclusion of gender-neutral toilets as part of the Museum’s renovation programme and inclusion of Pride festivities within public programmes each year.”

In celebration of the Rainbow Excellence Awards and to celebrate Auckland’s Rainbow Community the Museum will be lit in Rainbow colours tonight.

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