University of Canterbury research centre
The Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies (MBC) is a research centre on Pacific Studies within the University of Canterbury. It was founded in 1988[1] from a bequest of Professor John Macmillan Brown.[2]
Their mission statement is:
To promote and advance scholarship and understanding of the Pacific region, including Aotearoa New Zealand, its people, societies and cultures; histories; arts; politics; environment and resources; developments and future.[2]
Governance and staff
The founding director was Leasiolagi Dr Malama Meleisea.[3]
In 2023 Steven Ratuva is the director of the centre and Christina Laalaai-Tausa is the Research Manager. The University of Canterbury Vice-Chancellor appoints an advisory board. In 2023 people named on the board are Paul Millar, Natalie Baird, Tara Ross, Jane Buckingham, Yvonne Crichton-Hill, Pascale Hatcher and Matthew Scobie.[4]
Activities
Publishing
The centre publishes research including the online open access journal Pacific Dynamics.[5] Macmillan Brown Press has published a number of books.[6]
The Macmillan Brown Pacific Artist in Residence Programme
The Macmillan Brown Pacific Artist in Residence Programme is an annual three-month residency that has been going since 1996.[7] It is supported by New Zealand's central arts funding body Creative New Zealand,[8] and 'aims to promote Pacific artistic innovation'.[9]
In 2022 the residency was valued at NZ$18,000 and had a focus on 'environmental protection, climate crisis response and community sustainability'.[9] In 2023 it was valued at NZ$25,000.[7] The 2016 recipient was Christchurch born Ioane Ioane where he created Samoan canoe's.[10] In 2027 the residency went to artist-curator Ema Tavola.[11]
References