Cheryll Sotheran facts for kids

Dame Cheryll Beatrice Sotheran (11 October 1945 – 30 December 2017) was a very important person in New Zealand's museum world. She was the first chief executive (or leader) of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Many people say she was key to making this huge museum project a success. It was one of the biggest museum projects in the world during the 1990s.

Early Life and Education

Cheryll Sotheran was born on 11 October 1945. She grew up in a large family in Stratford. This is a farming town in the Taranaki area of New Zealand.

She went to St Mary's College in Auckland for her schooling. Later, she studied at the University of Auckland. She earned a Masters of Arts degree in English in 1969. She also studied Art History at the university.

Career Highlights

The outside of Te Papa Tongarewa museum in 2016.

Cheryll Sotheran started her career teaching Art History at Auckland University. In 1986, she became the director of the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery. This was her first big role in managing art places. In 1989, she became the director of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery.

In 1992, Cheryll Sotheran was chosen for a huge job. She became the first chief executive of the new Te Papa museum. Te Papa was created by joining New Zealand's National Museum and National Art Gallery. A brand new building was constructed for it on the Wellington waterfront.

Building Te Papa was the biggest international museum project of the 1990s. It even involved moving a hotel on wheels to make space for the museum! The museum opened in February 1998. It was finished on time and within its budget. Te Papa was designed to show both Māori and European cultures together. This was a new and special way for a museum to work.

Cheryll Sotheran left Te Papa in 2002 because of health reasons. After that, she worked for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. There, she helped develop creative industries across New Zealand. This included areas like art, design, and film.

Awards and Recognition

Cheryll Sotheran received several important awards for her work. In 1990, she was given the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal. She also received the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal in 1993.

In 1999, she was given a very high honour. She was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This was for her great service to museum administration. The University of Auckland also gave her a special award in 1999.

Later Life and Passing

In 2013, Cheryll Sotheran had a stroke. She faced health challenges until she passed away in Auckland on 30 December 2017. She was 72 years old.