Terri Elder is the Curator of the University of Canterbury Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities and a current PhD candidate in Art History at the University.
Terri has worked extensively in museums, art galleries, and collections throughout New Zealand as a curator and collection manager. She is passionate about using museum objects and material culture for teaching and learning.
Terri’s PhD research explores the process of classical assimilation, comparison and reception in Aotearoa through the medium of classical antiquities. She is investigating the ways in which classical collections were created in a sample of New Zealand museums from 1850–1950, with the aim to consider the intent behind, and impact of, the deliberate selection, classification and exhibition of such artefacts.
Terri is a member of Museums Aotearoa, the International Council of Museums (ICOM), University Museums and Collections (UMAC), and Mediterranean Archaeology Australasian Research Community (MAARC). She currently serves on the executive committees for the Canterbury History Foundation and the Hororata Historical Society.