Marlborough Living Cultural Treasure Award
Criteria
Extraordinary, inspiring and significant in cultural endeavour over a lifetime, and wherever possible sharing these with the community, including inspiring future generations.
Background
This award was established in 2012 by Marlborough Museum in partnership with Marlborough District Council and The Marlborough Express. In 2024, council assumed guardianship of the Marlborough Living Cultural Treasure Award with the support of the Economic, Finance and Community (EFC) Committee.
The Award is made to recipients who have demonstrated a lifetime of excellence in cultural endeavour, and are a source of community inspiration.
The selection panel includes:
- The Mayor
- One community representative appointed by the Mayor
- One previous recipient of the Marlborough Living Cultural Treasure Award. The longest serving Living Cultural Treasure will be invited, if they are not available then the order of service will be the order of invitation
- Marlborough District Council Libraries Manager
- An iwi representative nominated by Te Tau Ihu Chairs
Definitions
Living Cultural Treasures are persons who possess, to a very high degree, the knowledge and skills required for performing or recreating specific elements of living cultural heritage. Living Cultural Treasures enrich the community with skills and knowledge in an extraordinary and significant way over a lifetime.
Living cultural heritage consists of practices and expressions, as well as the knowledge, skills and values associated therewith, that communities and groups recognise as part of their cultural heritage.
Recognition and reward for appointees
The principal reward for a Living Cultural Treasure is public recognition. To ensure this, the honours are conferred at a formal ceremony presided over by the Mayor.
Nominations from the community
One award will be presented per mayoral term as follows:
- Call for nominations in November of the year preceding council elections
- Nominations close in January of the election year
- Selection Panel to meet in late February of the election year
- Award to presented in late March/early April of the election year
Nominate a person
Nomination forms will be available on this page later in the year. For further information email nicola.neilson@marlborough.govt.nz
Recipients of the Marlborough Living Treasure Award
2023 Clarry Neame, artist
2019 Nan Kahu Chadwick, te reo Māori and kapa haka teacher
2018 Kevin Moseley, musician
2017 Margaret Bond, artist and weaver
2016 Fran Maguire, potter and Clem Mellish, Artist and bonecarver
2015 Triska Blumenfield, artist
2014 J S Parker, artist
2013 Joy Cowley, author and Duncan Whiting, producer-director
2012 Peg Moorhouse, weaver, inaugural recipient
