The Anna Bidwill Foundation.
The Foundation.
Rototawai is administered by the Anna Bidwill Foundation; a charitable trust established by Anna to develop and make available Rototawai and her collection. Over time, it is the intention of Rototawai to offer more - including intimate music events, facility for functions, exhibitions of New Zealand Artists – and in time the hosting an ‘artist in residence’ program.
Our Vision.
The vision of the Anna Bidwill Foundation is to promote the creative Arts of New Zealand – as part of doing so, we have made a private art collection and one of the Wairarapa’s iconic homesteads and adjacent gardens available for the enjoyment of the general public.
Our Activity.
The Collection and gallery are open to the public and the property will be available as a venue for weddings and events (from late Summer 2024). gallery admission, events and future exhibitions will help to fund the foundation in its quest to promote the interests of the art world and assist with the ongoing development of Rototawai.
Rototawai development.
Rototawai has been in the Bidwill family for generations - the estate was purchased from the Bidwill family by Anna’s parents and was her childhood home. Anna’s father subsequently sold the property and it had been out of family ownership for 33 years – until Anna repurchased the property in 2020 in order to develop the homestead, gallery and gardens.
Anna Bidwill.
Anna has been a collector of art for over 50 years. The collection is located at Rototawai, an Historic Homestead subsequently rebuilt in 1929 by architect Stanley Fearn after the original wooden Homestead burnt to the ground.
Today, the permanent collection is hung in the public rooms throughout the lower floor of the house.
While the full collection cannot be presented at Rototawai, the trust anticipates changing exhibitions will enable art lovers to return to Rototawai to view new works and feature exhibitions.
Make a donation.
By making a donation to Rototawai, you are helping support the acquisition of future artworks as well as contributing to the ongoing management and maintenance of the gallery, homestead and gardens.
