Jenny Gibbs

Dame Jennifer Barbara Gibbs DNZM (née Gore; born 14 September 1940) is a New Zealand philanthropist and art collector, and in 2007 was described as "the most constant champion of contemporary art in New Zealand."[1]

Dame Jenny Gibbs

DNZM
Gibbs in 2009
Born
Jennifer Barbara Gore

(1940-09-14) 14 September 1940
Wellington, New Zealand
Known forArts patronage

Early life and family

Gibbs was born Jennifer Barbara Gore in Wellington on 14 September 1940, the daughter of Barbara Mary Gore (née Standish) and Ross Digby Gore.[2] Between 1952 and 1956, she was educated at Wellington Girls' College, and went on to study at Victoria University College from 1957 to 1960, graduating Bachelor of Arts, and Canterbury University College in 1961, where she graduated MA(Hons).[2]

In 1961, She married Alan Gibbs, and they would go on to have four children.[2] In 1962 and between 1965 and 1966, Jenny Gibbs was a junior lecturer in history at Victoria University of Wellington.[2]

Service and philanthropy

Gibbs was a member of the University of Auckland Council from 1975 to 1995, serving as pro-chancellor from 1985 to 1986 and in 1994.[2] Board roles include Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and as a member of the international council of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.[2] She sat on the panel for the 1997 New Zealand pensions referendum, and chaired the prime minister's advisory committee for art and culture for APEC New Zealand 1999.[2]

Many arts projects have benefited from Gibbs' support, including the establishment of a new gallery at Auckland Art Gallery, and New Zealand's involvement at the Venice Biennale.[3] In 2018, she donated 15 works by Gordon Walters to the Auckland Art Gallery.[4] She was the commissioner of the New Zealand presentation at the 2019 Venice Biennale.[4]

Honours and awards

In the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours, Gibbs was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to art.[5] In the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was promoted to Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, also for services to the arts.[6]

Gibbs was made a fellow of the University of Auckland in 1995, for service to the university.[2] In 2004, she was recognised with an Auckland City Distinguished Citizen Award,[7] and in 2007 she received the Arts Foundation of New Zealand Award for Patronage.[1]

References
  1. "Jenny Gibbs awarded for arts patronage". Scoop Independent News. 10 May 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  2. Taylor, Alister, ed. (2001). New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001. Auckland: Alister Taylor Publishers. p. 367. ISSN 1172-9813.
  3. "Jenny Gibbs". Government House. 17 September 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  4. De Lore, Clare (2 October 2018). "Kiwi philanthropist Jenny Gibbs has pledged a unique gift to medical research". New Zealand Listener. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  5. "Queen's Birthday honours list 1998". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 1998. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  6. "Queen's Birthday honours list 2009". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  7. "Home is where the art is". New Zealand Herald. 26 February 2004. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
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