Pt Chevalier school children curate an exhibition for Torpedo Bay Navy Museum

For the first time ever, a New Zealand exhibition is being curated by Years 5/6 primary school children.

Earlier this year, Torpedo Bay Navy Museum launched a competition giving schools all over Auckland the opportunity to create an exhibition for their gallery.

Schools had to create a four hundred-word submission on what made a good exhibition and why they deserved to win.

Pt Chevalier School took out the top spot with their entry entitled ‘We’re Curative’.

Navy Museum educator, Anna Hodson, said, “Pt Chevalier’s submission had a holistic approach to an exhibition. They thought about the audience, content, the way it was presented, they even went around and did market research. It was also a well presented submission.”

The group has created an exhibition based on their responses to the artifacts within the museum. The group was chosen and supported by Pt Chevalier Teacher Nicole Beaver who individually interviewed a number of children before selecting the group.

This is a unique project that will benefit the children and teachers involved because of the way they are organised into groups just as they would be in the commercial world. The team consists of Project Manager, Production Managers, Exhibition Designers, Graphics Team, Display Technicians and a Public Relations Department.

Phil Spriggs, the Deputy Principal of Pt Chevalier School and creator of the Mindbenders group says, “The quality of the work produced is outstanding and beyond expectation. I am very impressed with the commitment that the students have shown to the project.”

The Exhibition is running from 1st October to 30th November at Torpedo Bay Navy Museum, which is located at the end of King Edward Parade, Torpedo Bay, Devonport in Auckland

The Museum is open from 10am to 5pm, seven days a week and entry is free, donations gratefully accepted.

For further information visit www.navymuseum.mil.nz