Porirua City Council has announced the appointment of Ana Sciascia (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Raukawa) as the new director of Pātaka Art + Museum.
Ms Sciascia said she was delighted to be continuing the impressive legacy of Pātaka and looked forward to bringing her own flavour and flair to the role.
“The quality of programmes at Pātaka is exceptional, I’ve always been an admirer. Pātaka is the creative hub for Porirua – serving our local community – as well as a lead institution for Māori, Pacific and Aotearoa/New Zealand art,” she said.
“I’m thrilled to be returning to the arts sector and working with the cultural vitality that exists in our community, especially as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Pātaka in 2023.”
Ms Sciascia grew up in Whitby and lives in Titahi Bay. She comes to Pātaka from Parliament, where she is a Senior Advisor in the Prime Minister’s Office.
“The arts have always played an essential role in my life. It’s a part of who I am; my culture, my environment, my identity. It’s how I express myself to the world,” she says.
Ms Sciascia has a Masters in Museum and Heritage Studies from Victoria University of Wellington, where her thesis examined iwi exhibitions at Te Papa from an iwi perspective. She has a Diploma in art and Design from Te Wānanga o Raukawa.
