Unhinged: Torchlight Tour

Come along and find out if the collection really does come to life after hours! Join our tag team of Directors, as Karl Chitham and Courtney Johnston spotlight items on display in Unhinged: Opening the Door to the Dowse Collection. Armed with your own torch, follow our intrepid guides into the darkness of the gallery and learn more about the artworks on display.

Karl Chitham has been director of The Dowse since 2019. He had always aspired to work here and has revelled in getting to know the collection in all its many eccentricities. Over his short time at The Dowse he has been able to add a number of significant acquisitions to the already impressive collections including many works by Māori. Karl came to The Dowse with a wealth of collection experience having worked in a string of regional galleries including Tauranga Art Gallery, Rotorua Museum, Waikato University and Whakatane Museum.

Courtney Johnston was director of The Dowse between 2012 and 2018. She loved her time at The Dowse, and retains an incredible fondness and admiration for the collection and relationships invested in the museum. Now the Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive at Te Papa, Courtney has lived and worked in Wellington since 2000, spending time at a variety of cultural organisations including the Adam Art Gallery, City Gallery Wellington and the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa.