Gifting ceremony, Auckland

This abstract summarizes the audio recording from the gifting ceremony of the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt, held at St Matthew-in-the-City in Auckland, on April 29th, 2012. The duration of the recording is 56 minutes and encapsulates audio and images from the poignant event, wherein the quilt was gifted to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum. The ceremony was attended by respected figures such as Aunty Wai Mason, Catherine Tizard, Claudia Orange, members of the GALS (Gay and Lesbian Singers, Auckland), and Michael Bancroft, who each played a role in the proceedings. The event was photographed by Gareth Watkins, with images available for viewing online.

During the ceremony, Michael Bancroft, the guardian of the quilt, acknowledged the significance of St. Matthew-in-the-City as a sacred space and honored various groups and individuals associated with the Quilt's legacy over its 24 years of existence. In addition to mourning those lost to HIV/AIDS, Bancroft also acknowledged the immense support received from the New Zealand AIDS Foundation over the years.

While not every quilt block could be brought into the ceremony due to space constraints, two blocks were presented to symbolize the entire collection. Bancroft paid tribute to the pioneering efforts of individuals who fought for the dignity of individuals dying from AIDS in the late '80s and recognized the long-standing support provided by Dame Catherine Tizard. Bancroft also mentioned significant figures who could not attend but expressed their regrets, underlining the community's broad and enduring engagement with the quilt.

Bancroft detailed the history of the quilt, which traced back to San Francisco in 1985 and reached New Zealand by 1988 when the first local panel was created. They highlighted the international and national scope of the movement, with New Zealand's quilt comprising 16 blocks and individual panels crafted by numerous communities.

A significant portion of the ceremony involved the practical handover process of the quilts to Te Papa, for which groundwork had been laid over the preceding years. Michael Bancroft expounded on the collaboration with Te Papa staff, such as Sara Guthrie, Stephanie Gibson, and Claudia Orange, who ensured the future preservation of quilts. They spoke highly of the meticulous documentation of the quilts by photographer Gareth Watkins, enabling their digital preservation.

Claudia Orange spoke on behalf of Te Papa, expressing gratitude and underscoring the profound social and historical value of the quilts. Te Papa pledged to uphold the quilts' legacy and ensure their accessibility for future generations through stewardship and digital platforms.

The ceremony included music from the GALS and concluded with a request from Bancroft for the public's continued support of the quilts, both financially and in spirit. It signified not just the physical transfer of the quilts but also the cementing of their status as a vital part of New Zealand's national heritage.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Aunty Wai Mason Catherine Tizard Claudia Orange GALS (Gay and Lesbian Singers, Auckland) Michael Bancroft

2010s, aotearoa new zealand, auckland, aunty wai mason, catherine tizard, claudia orange, digby law, gals (gay and lesbian singers, auckland), hiv / aids, michael bancroft, museum of new zealand te papa tongarewa, new zealand aids foundation (nzaf), new zealand aids memorial quilt, sara guthrie, st matthew-in-the-city

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