Victoria University of Wellington (Head of Art History, 1995–2001; Assistant Vice Chancellor, 2001–2006) Christchurch Art Gallery (director, 2006–2018)
Jenny Gwynndd HarperMNZM (born 27 April 1950) is a New Zealand academic and museum professional.[1] She was most recently the director of Christchurch Art Gallery.
She married Frank Lewis Bailey, and the couple had one child.[2]
Career
Harper began her career in art museums in 1983 as assistant curator in the International Prints and Illustrated Books department of the National Gallery of Australia. From 1983 to 1986 she was curator of European Art at the Queensland Art Gallery.[4]
In 1986 Harper returned to New Zealand and became Senior Curator of international art at the National Art Gallery in Wellington (prior to the merger of the National Art Gallery and National Museum to form the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa).[4] During this time Harper curated exhibitions of the work of Barbara Kruger (1988), Cindy Sherman (1989) and Imants Tillers (1989).[5] In 1988 and 1989, Harper was part of the Institutional Planning Team for the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and from 1990 the director of the National Art Gallery, Wellington, until legislative change took effect in 1992 at which point she became the Director, Art and History, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. During 1994 Harper was Director, Museum Projects at Te Papa.[6]
In 1995 Harper left Te Papa to take up a position as Head of Art History at Victoria University of Wellington; between 2001 and 2004 she was Head, School of Art History, Classics and Religious Studies at the university and in 2004 was appointed Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Academic).[7] During her time at Victoria University Harper was a driving force behind the establishment of the Adam Art Gallery, a project which involved the controversial sale of a major work by Colin McCahon, which the artist had gifted to the university, to fund a budget shortfall and provide an endowment for future collection acquisitions.[8][9]
In July 2006 Harper was announced as the new director of Christchurch Art Gallery, replacing outgoing director Tony Preston.[10] She led the gallery through the five-year closure following the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, with the gallery not re-opening until December 2015.[11][12] During the closure Harper led the crowdfunding drive to raise funds for the acquisition of Michael Parekowhai's ''Chapman’s Homer'Archived 1 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine', part of the artist's installation at the 2011 Venice Biennale.[13] Raising $206,050, the 'Back the Bull' campaign was at the time the most successful crowdfunding campaign in New Zealand.[14]
Harper gave notice of her resignation as director in 2017, taking effect at Easter 2018.[15] Her tenure is noted for her fundraising efforts, in addition to increasing visitor numbers and expanding the gallery's permanent collection to have a stronger national and international remit.[16]
Sally Blundell, 'The new broom[permanent dead link]', New Zealand Listener, 14 October 2006. (Discusses her plans for promotion of the gallery and her earlier career. Mentions her involvement with Victoria University of Wellington art history department, Adam Art Gallery and National Art Gallery in Wellington.)
Martin Van Beynen, 'Ambitious for art[permanent dead link]', The Press, 29 July 2006, p.D3. (Profiles the new director of the Christchurch Art Gallery. Presents her curriculum vitae and talks to her about her character and personal and career experiences.)
Josie McNaught, 'The three graces'[permanent dead link], The Dominion, 4 September 1999, p. 17 (Refers to the high-profile arts leaders – Dame Cheryll Sotheran, chief executive of Te Papa; Paula Savage, director of City Gallery; and Jenny Harper, head of art history at Victoria University.)
Ngaire Hopper, 'Jenny Harper : guardian of art treasures[permanent dead link]', The Evening Post, 25 May 1991, p. 25. (Backgrounds the career and philosophy of the current Director of the National Art Gallery. Mentions the proposed organisation of the Museum of NZ.)
Gill Newland, 'Art for the people[permanent dead link]', More, January 1991, p. 14. (Outlines the professional philosophy of the new director of the National Art Gallery.)
