The Commissioner - Jenny Harper

Jenny Harper has been a leader in the public arts domain in New Zealand for over twenty years. Returning from Australia in the mid-1980s to take up the post of Senior Curator of International Art at New Zealand's National Art Gallery, Jenny also worked in the institutional planning team for the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. She became the last director of the National Art Gallery from 1990 until 1992, after which she spent a further two years as director of art and history following the legislative amalgamation of the former National Art Gallery and Museum.

Before being appointed to her present position in Christchurch, Jenny Harper spent 12 years at Victoria University of Wellington. In that time she developed the art history department, becoming head of a larger school of Art History, Classics and Religious Studies in 2000. In 2003 Jenny was appointed to the role of Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Academic). The ambitious Adam Art Gallery at Victoria University was developed and completed under Jenny's leadership.

In 2006 Jenny Harper took up her current position as Director of the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu.

Heads of Patrons - Jenny Gibbs and Dayle Mace

A key component to the success of a New Zealand presence at the Venice Biennale is the support and patronage of individual champions of the arts. To date, the generosity of private patrons has enabled Creative New Zealand to secure funding for two artists to represent New Zealand.

Heads of Patrons for the the New Zealand presence at the Venice Biennale in 2009 are Jenny Gibbs and Dayle Mace.

Jenny Gibbs

As a philanthropist and art collector Jenny's influence has been immense on raising the profile of New Zealand art internationally, and within New Zealand, particularly Auckland. Jenny has demonstrated her commitment to the arts through leadership of numerous arts projects with her most ambitious personal undertakings being the establishment of the New Gallery for Auckland City Art Gallery and supporting New Zealand's presence at the Venice Biennale.

Jenny has had many important roles including Founder and Chair of the Patrons of the Auckland Art Gallery and the Auckland Contemporary Arts Trust, Founding Trustee of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand, Foundation Donor and Board Member of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and as a long time member of the prestigious International Council of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Her enthusiasm and passion for the arts also sees Jenny as a Founding Patron and significant donor to many arts organisations and a supporter of private individuals.

Dayle Mace 

Recently made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to arts and the community, Dayle Mace has been a longstanding supporter and patron of both the visual arts and theatre communities. Dayle is an ardent supporter of contemporary New Zealand art and is Major Donor of the Walters Prize, New Zealand's richest and most prestigious art prize. Key positions that Dayle holds in her philanthropic work include Chair of the Auckland Art Gallery Patrons Group, Board Member of the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation, Board Member of the Auckland Art Fair Trust, Board Member for the Auckland Theatre Company and Chair of the Auckland Theatre Company Patrons.