Professor Jack C. Richards

The official website of educator Jack C Richards

Support for Cultural Activities

Jack Richards is an active supporter of musical and cultural initiatives and activities in New Zealand. In 2014 he received the prestigious Award for Patronage 2014, by the Arts Foundation of New Zealand, acknowledging his support for music and the arts.

Past and current support includes;

  • Benefactor of the National Music Centre, to be built in Wellington
  • Patron and sponsor of the New Zealand National Guitar Competition
  • Grants to the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation to support young New Zealand opera singers
  • Co-sponsor of the Composer in Residence Program at the New Zealand School of Music
  • Provision of travel scholarships for semi-finalists in the Chamber Music New Zealand School Chamber Music Competition
  • Sponsor of three CDs by New Zealand musicians – Tony Chen Lin, Lixin Zhang and Tony Yan Tong Chen
  • Sponsored book on the life of composer Jack Body
  • Numerous commissions for New Zealand composers, including Jack Body, Jenny McLeod, John Psathas
  • Commissioning of piano concertos by Gareth Farr, Lyell Cresswell, and Gao Ping which were performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
  • Scholarships and financial support for students in the New Zealand School of Music and in the School of Applied Language Studies, Victoria University
  • Financing for the production of a video of Jenny Macleod’s opera “Hohepa”
  • Sponsorship of participation by young New Zealand musicians in the Edith Fischer Academy, Blonay Switzerland
  • Provision of scholarships for students enrolled in the Toihokura program in contemporary Maori Art, Gisborne
  • Initiation of the Ruanuku Award for excellent in contemporary Maori Art, enabling the Tairāwhiti Museum to acquire a major collection of art by local artists
  • Support for the Tairāwhiti Arts Festival, Gisborne
  • Purchase of works by local and national artists for the collection of Tairāwhiti Museum
  • Funding of an award in the Te Ha Art Awards competition at Tairāwhiti museum
  • Funding of improvements to the Tairāwhiti Museum
  • Funding of a new gallery at the Tairāwhiti Museum – the Jack C Richards Decorative Arts Gallery – the only gallery of its kind in any New Zealand Museum
  • Grant to support upgrades at Whangara Marae
  • The major private sponsor for renovations of the Toko Toru Tapu Church at Manutuke – one of the most important buildings of its kind in New Zealand due to the significance of its carved panels
  • One of the major private sponsors of renovations to the Gisborne War Memorial Theater
  • Grants to support the local chapter of Chamber Music New Zealand
  • Commissioning of art pieces by Gisborne artists for installation in the Gisborne War Memorial Theater
  • Significant contributor to renovations to the Dawson Field Theater, Gisborne
  • Patron and major sponsor of the Gisborne International Music Competition
  • Sponsor of a series of annual summer concerts in support of the Gisborne International Music Competition
  • Sponsor a series of winter concerts in the Tairāwhiti Museum, Gisborne, featuring student musicians from the New Zealand School of Music.
  • Commissioning of sculptures for public spaces in Gisborne

Arts, Music, Patronage, Scholarships

Current Scholarships and Grants 2018

  • Jack Richards sponsored recordings of CDs by Tony Chen Lin (piano) and Lixin Zhang. Both CDs will be published by Rattle Records, New Zealand
  • In April, Jack Richards is sponsoring a series of recitals by Singaporean violinist Jun Hong Loh (winner of the 2016 Gisborne International Music Competition) and New Zealand pianist Tony Chen Lin.
  • Tairawhiti Museum, Gisborne New Zealand– sponsorship of 6 concerts featuring students from the New Zealand School of Music
  • Tairawhiti Museum, Gisborne – grant for acquisition (Ruanuku award)
  • Toihoukura program in Contemporary Maori Arts, Gisborne – student scholarships
  • Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation – grant to support the Foundation’s support for emerging opera singers
  • Support for university studies: Lester Cajes Manila; John Yanson Manila; Sedigh Mohammadi  UK
  • Professional development grant: Tony Chen Lin (pianist), New Zealand/Germany
  • Sponsorship of websites for Jun Hong Lo (More Than Music) and Tony Chen Lin.
  • Dr Richards also provides ongoing sponsorship of The Gisborne International Music Competition.
Arts, Music, News, Patronage, Scholarships

Scholarships and Grants 2017

  • Grant to support students at the Modern American English School in Antigua, Guatemala.
  • Tairawhiti Museum, Gisborne New Zealand– sponsorship of 6 concerts featuring students from the New Zealand School of Music
  • Tairawhiti Museum, Gisborne – grant for acquisition (Ruanuku award)
  • Toihoukura program in Contemporary Maori Arts, Gisborne – student scholarships
  • Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation – grant to support the Foundation’s support for emerging opera singers
  • RELC, Singapore.  Ms Shwe Yee Htoo, Myanmar and Mr Hazwan bin Hamdan, Malaysia, scholarships to complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics (blended version).
  • Support for musical development: piano students Leroy Ma (age 13), Sydney; and Lixin Zhang (age 15), Christchurch.
  • Support for university studies: Joshua Holmberg New Zealand; Lester Cajes Manila; John Yanson Manila.
  • Support for Ph.D studies: Christian Rudianto Indonesia.
  • Professional development grant: Tony Chen Lin (pianist), New Zealand/Germany and Frederick Jones (tenor), New Zealand/United Kingdom.
  • Sponsorship of websites for Jun Hong Lo (More Than Music) and Tony Chen Lin.
  • Dr Richards also provides ongoing sponsorship of The Gisborne International Music Competition.
  • Sponsorship of Calvin Abdiel and Leroy Ma (Sydney) to take part in the 11th International Competition for Young Pianists “Steps to Mastery” in St. Petersburg in June 2017.
  • Sponsorship of Lixin Zhang (Christchurch) to take masterclasses in piano at the Semaine International de piano et  musique du chambre, Blonay Switzerland, August 2017.
Patronage, Scholarships

Toihoukura School of Contemporary Arts

ToihoukuraJack Richard’s home town of Gisborne, New Zealand, has a long tradition of excellence in Maori arts.

Many of the finest examples of carved and painted meeting houses (known as Marae) in New Zealand are located in the district, and the region is home to a number of nationally renowned Maori carvers, weavers, ceramists and specialists in other fields of Maori art.

The local Polytechnic in Gisborne has a school of contemporary Maori art, called Toihoukura. It offers a range of courses in contemporary Maori art and design. Tutors in the program are nationally recognized leaders in the field of contemporary Maori art.

In order to facilitate participation by Maori students in Toihoukura programs and to encourage the wider recognition of the quality of work produced by students in Toihoukura, Professor Richards offers annual scholarships to students in the program and sponsors special commissions and awards.

Arts, Patronage, Scholarships