'Rare beast': Whanganui ceramics museum closes - for now

The country's only museum dedicated to ceramics has closed to the public due to a funding crunch.

The Quartz Museum in Whanganui was founded by ceramicist Rick Rudd a decade ago and holds over 4000 works.

Rudd, 76, is one of the country's top potters, but says he cannot continue working six days a week to keep the museum open.

He sought funding from the local council and Lottery NZ for two part-time workers to support him but was unsuccessful.

“It has been a hard decision, but I have to consider my health and mental health as well. In those 10 years, I've had a few days off with volunteers taking over.

“I've had five days off when I caught Covid for the first time in July this year, but apart from that, the museum has never been closed in the 10 years.”

Nevertheless, he is hopeful funding may yet come through, he told RNZ’s Nine to Noon. 

“I feel positive, that seems strange, but the museum will open again, it's just a matter of time.

“I've made the decision that I will open on Boxing Day, which is what I always have done, and at least go for three months of the year, no matter what, after I've had this break.”

By then he hopes to have recruited some help, he says.

“But that depends probably on private funding or patron funding, and I've already had approaches which give me great hope.”

There are over 4600 works in the collection and it’s still growing, he says.

“Simon Manchester, a well-known Wellington collector, when he died, he left me his entire collection of 2700 works, which just sort of blew the place apart in a way.”

A museum dedicated exclusively to ceramics is a “rare beast” he says.

“The New Zealand collection is very seriously curated and focused on the movers and shakers of studio ceramics from the 1920s through to the present day.”