Museum experience designers collaborate with Southland creatives
Southern Institute of Technology students, from left, Ella Burton (obscured), Savanna Conradie, and Charlotte Gillam, will intern on a video shoot to capture storytelling content for the new Te Unua Museum of Southland alongside award-winning experience development contractor Gibson International.
The experience development team at Te Unua Museum of Southland has partnered with local creatives, to bring the stories of the region to the world.
Physical construction at the new regional museum in Invercargill was scheduled to be completed later this year. In the meantime, work on its experience development was rapidly progressing ahead of the museum’s opening in 2027.
Te Unua Museum of Southland Director Eloise Wallace said the development of a series of audio-visual installations was among the work being undertaken.
Led by experience design contractor Gibson International – the award-winning visitor experience, exhibition design, and production studio – with assistance from Council’s museums and heritage team, mana whenua, and local creatives, the footage would be key to the long-term exhibition within the museum.
“The hope for our long-term exhibition at Te Unua is to really reflect the core of who and what Southland is. Having so many people involved in shaping those narratives is a wonderful reflection of the diversity of people and place within our region, and we look forward to seeing our stories reflected back for our community, by our community,” Wallace said.
she said.
Southern Institute of Technology students (from left) Charlotte Gillam, Ella Burton, and Savanna Conradie test out equipment they will use while interning alongside experience development contractor Gibson International, as they capture storytelling video footage for Te Unua Museum of Invercargill.
The experience development team at Te Unua Museum of Southland has partnered with local creatives, to bring the stories of the region to the world.
Physical construction at the new regional museum in Invercargill was scheduled to be completed later this year. In the meantime, work on its experience development was rapidly progressing ahead of the museum’s opening in 2027.
Te Unua Museum of Southland Director Eloise Wallace said the development of a series of audio-visual installations was among the work being undertaken.
Led by experience design contractor Gibson International – the award-winning visitor experience, exhibition design, and production studio – with assistance from Council’s museums and heritage team, mana whenua, and local creatives, the footage would be key to the long-term exhibition within the museum.
“The hope for our long-term exhibition at Te Unua is to really reflect the core of who and what Southland is. Having so many people involved in shaping those narratives is a wonderful reflection of the diversity of people and place within our region, and we look forward to seeing our stories reflected back for our community, by our community,” Wallace said.
Gibson International head of content strategy and media production Gary Scott said working with locals within the industry was instrumental in ensuring footage felt true to the region.
“Southland has an incredibly rich and interesting story to tell as part of the wider New Zealand experience, and it reflects so many of those things you just won’t see anywhere else. Southland’s got a real flavour of its own,” he said.
“These are Southland’s stories to tell, so having that local voice and feel is really crucial in ensuring the wider experience feels authentic. It’s been really great to see the enthusiasm coming from people wanting to be involved – people from Southland are, quite rightly, proud of their culture and their environment. They genuinely want to be part of something that supports that and reflects that.”
Among those involved in the project were Nick McGrath and James Wilkinson, who met several years ago while working in the video production team at the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT).
Two years ago, the duo founded production company Second Beer, which had been asked to assist with the experience development at Te Unua.
McGrath said the chance to be involved had come as a pleasant surprise.
“It wasn’t something that was really on our radar, but Gary came out of the blue and it was nice that he took a punt on us. We are really appreciative for the opportunity, and I really rate how he’s been trying to use as many local creatives as he can,” McGrath said.
“I’ve had a real sense of pride come from being able to be part of something local that’s going to be pretty massive for our community. Being able to contribute to something that we’re all really looking forward to, with the museum opening, has been great,” he said.
Already, Second Beer had taken part in a handful of shoots capturing footage for Te Unua. Next up would be a larger shoot, capturing audio-visual content for the museum’s long-term exhibition. Set to take place over several days this month, it would involve dozens of actors, extras and crew.
Through Wilkinson’s role as programme manager for the Screen Arts Department at SIT, students would have the chance to intern on the shoot – putting the craft they were refining through their studies to the test.
“We’ve made a really conscious effort to get students involved in professional opportunities as much as we can, to really build their capability. Opportunities like being able to work on Te Unua are huge and they’re rapt to be getting amongst it,” Wilkinson said.
The project had brought back fond memories for both he and McGrath, Wilkinson said.
“Our first brush with the industry was when they shot Two Little Boys down here – a few of us got internship opportunities on that. It was a real learning experience for us, and gave us the chance to brush up for the real world in a way that theory and classes just can’t do,” he said.
“For these students it’s an opportunity to see how the industry actually functions. It’s high pressure, and the cream rises to the top pretty quick in the film industry – it’s not always about being the most talented, it’s about initiative and willingness to learn. For the students to get that experience, in real time, is invaluable.”
The shoot would take place at SIT’s Invercargill campus, using its facilities and equipment. SIT was one of just two film schools in the country that boasted an LED video wall, which would be used for the project, Wilkinson said.
Wallace said the chance to collaborate with local organisations like SIT ensured Te Unua would genuinely reflect the community the regional museum served.
“Strong museums are built through strong partnerships. We’re really grateful to SIT and the wider team for seeing the cultural, social, and economic value in working together to share Southland’s stories,” she said.
“I’ve had a real sense of pride come from being able to be part of something local that’s going to be pretty massive for our community. Being able to contribute to something that we’re all really looking forward to, with the museum opening, has been great,” he said.
Already, Second Beer had taken part in a handful of shoots capturing footage for Te Unua. Next up would be a larger shoot, capturing audio-visual content for the museum’s long-term exhibition. Set to take place over several days in August, it would involve dozens of actors, extras and crew.
Through Wilkinson’s role as programme manager for the Screen Arts Department at SIT, students would have the chance to intern on the shoot – putting the craft they were refining through their studies to the test.
“We’ve made a really conscious effort to get students involved in professional opportunities as much as we can, to really build their capability. Opportunities like being able to work on Te Unua are huge and they’re rapt to be getting amongst it,” Wilkinson said.
The project had brought back fond memories for both he and McGrath, Wilkinson said.
“Our first brush with the industry was when they shot Two Little Boys down here – a few of us got internship opportunities on that. It was a real learning experience for us, and gave us the chance to brush up for the real world in a way that theory and classes just can’t do,” he said.
“For these students it’s an opportunity to see how the industry actually functions. It’s high pressure, and the cream rises to the top pretty quick in the film industry – it’s not always about being the most talented, it’s about initiative and willingness to learn. For the students to get that experience, in real time, is invaluable.”
The shoot would take place at SIT’s Invercargill campus, using its facilities and equipment. SIT was one of just two film schools in the country that boasted an LED video wall, which would be used for the project, Wilkinson said.
Wallace said the chance to collaborate with local organisations like SIT ensured Te Unua would genuinely reflect the community the regional museum served.
“Strong museums are built through strong partnerships. We’re really grateful to SIT and the wider team for seeing the cultural, social, and economic value in working together to share Southland’s stories,” she said.
