Latest news with #AustralianMuseumofPerformingArts
Time Out
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
A brand new museum for the performing arts is coming to Melbourne, showcasing rare objects
What do Nick Cave's handwritten journal, Kylie Minogue's iconic gold hot pants, and Peter Allen's maracas have in common? They are all part of the extraordinary collection that has found a new home at Melbourne's brand new Australian Museum of Performing Arts (AMPA). Located at Arts Centre Melbourne's beloved Hamer Hall, overlooking the Yarra River, AMPA promises to immerse visitors in Australia's glittering performing arts legacy. From circus spectacles and operatic grandeur to theatrical masterpieces and pop culture throwbacks, the museum will showcase over 850,000 treasured items from the nation's largest performing arts collection. Visitors and Victorians alike will get the chance to marvel at extraordinary items, including Dame Edna Everage's ostentatious 'Scream Dress', Dame Nellie Melba's exquisite silk stage cloak, and Bon Scott's leather jacket. Additionally, memorable props and sets from legendary Australian productions such as Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Summer of the Seventeenth Doll will also be on display. AMPA will launch in phases, initially unveiling almost 500 square metres of exhibition space in December 2025, with a future expansion planned to reach approximately 800 square metres. The museum will blend exclusive pieces from its permanent collection with internationally acclaimed touring exhibitions, enhancing Melbourne's standing as a cultural powerhouse.
The Advertiser
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Kylie's hotpants among new museum's national treasures
From Kylie Minogue's gold hotpants to a 19th-century cloak worn by Dame Nellie Melba, costumes which adorned Australia's stars of the stage will go on show at a new museum. The $3.5 million Australian Museum of Performing Arts, under construction inside Melbourne's Hamer Hall, is set to open in December. The space will be used to show off the Australian Performing Arts Collection of more than 850,000 costumes, props, posters and other memorabilia. The treasures include AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott's leather jacket, Dame Edna Everage's The Scream Dress, and Divinyls singer Chrissy Amphlett's tunic. There's also a journal by Nick Cave, a model of the Priscilla Queen of the Desert bus, and the puppet Ossie Ostrich from the TV program Hey Hey it's Saturday. The museum project started with $500,000 in state government funding, with the rest of the budget coming from philanthropists. At a media event on Monday, performer Lucy Durack paid tribute to the late Olivia Newton-John with a rendition of her 1978 hit Hopelessly Devoted To You, from the musical Grease. Behind her was a sparkling red gown Newton-John wore in 1980 to sing for Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Charity Concert at Sydney Opera House. Arts Centre Melbourne chief executive Karen Quinlan said she was hopelessly devoted to the collection, which was established in 1975 and estimated to be worth almost $80 million, but had mostly been kept in storage. Putting it on show at the museum would inspire people, she said. "This is the new kid on the block. This is going to be a game-changing moment for Melbourne and I'm really excited." The collection also houses items from some of the nation's most prestigious performing arts companies such as The Australian Ballet, Circus Oz, Melbourne Theatre Company and Opera Australia. The museum will be located on the upper terrace of the Hamer Hall building overlooking the Yarra River. It will initially have 500 sq m of exhibition space, and a second phase of construction will see this expand to about 800 sq m. Ticket prices will be accessible, promised Quinlan, and a program of two exhibitions a year will include international shows. A $1.7 billion program to revitalise Melbourne's arts precinct more broadly, including a new contemporary art gallery, is slated for completion in 2028. From Kylie Minogue's gold hotpants to a 19th-century cloak worn by Dame Nellie Melba, costumes which adorned Australia's stars of the stage will go on show at a new museum. The $3.5 million Australian Museum of Performing Arts, under construction inside Melbourne's Hamer Hall, is set to open in December. The space will be used to show off the Australian Performing Arts Collection of more than 850,000 costumes, props, posters and other memorabilia. The treasures include AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott's leather jacket, Dame Edna Everage's The Scream Dress, and Divinyls singer Chrissy Amphlett's tunic. There's also a journal by Nick Cave, a model of the Priscilla Queen of the Desert bus, and the puppet Ossie Ostrich from the TV program Hey Hey it's Saturday. The museum project started with $500,000 in state government funding, with the rest of the budget coming from philanthropists. At a media event on Monday, performer Lucy Durack paid tribute to the late Olivia Newton-John with a rendition of her 1978 hit Hopelessly Devoted To You, from the musical Grease. Behind her was a sparkling red gown Newton-John wore in 1980 to sing for Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Charity Concert at Sydney Opera House. Arts Centre Melbourne chief executive Karen Quinlan said she was hopelessly devoted to the collection, which was established in 1975 and estimated to be worth almost $80 million, but had mostly been kept in storage. Putting it on show at the museum would inspire people, she said. "This is the new kid on the block. This is going to be a game-changing moment for Melbourne and I'm really excited." The collection also houses items from some of the nation's most prestigious performing arts companies such as The Australian Ballet, Circus Oz, Melbourne Theatre Company and Opera Australia. The museum will be located on the upper terrace of the Hamer Hall building overlooking the Yarra River. It will initially have 500 sq m of exhibition space, and a second phase of construction will see this expand to about 800 sq m. Ticket prices will be accessible, promised Quinlan, and a program of two exhibitions a year will include international shows. A $1.7 billion program to revitalise Melbourne's arts precinct more broadly, including a new contemporary art gallery, is slated for completion in 2028. From Kylie Minogue's gold hotpants to a 19th-century cloak worn by Dame Nellie Melba, costumes which adorned Australia's stars of the stage will go on show at a new museum. The $3.5 million Australian Museum of Performing Arts, under construction inside Melbourne's Hamer Hall, is set to open in December. The space will be used to show off the Australian Performing Arts Collection of more than 850,000 costumes, props, posters and other memorabilia. The treasures include AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott's leather jacket, Dame Edna Everage's The Scream Dress, and Divinyls singer Chrissy Amphlett's tunic. There's also a journal by Nick Cave, a model of the Priscilla Queen of the Desert bus, and the puppet Ossie Ostrich from the TV program Hey Hey it's Saturday. The museum project started with $500,000 in state government funding, with the rest of the budget coming from philanthropists. At a media event on Monday, performer Lucy Durack paid tribute to the late Olivia Newton-John with a rendition of her 1978 hit Hopelessly Devoted To You, from the musical Grease. Behind her was a sparkling red gown Newton-John wore in 1980 to sing for Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Charity Concert at Sydney Opera House. Arts Centre Melbourne chief executive Karen Quinlan said she was hopelessly devoted to the collection, which was established in 1975 and estimated to be worth almost $80 million, but had mostly been kept in storage. Putting it on show at the museum would inspire people, she said. "This is the new kid on the block. This is going to be a game-changing moment for Melbourne and I'm really excited." The collection also houses items from some of the nation's most prestigious performing arts companies such as The Australian Ballet, Circus Oz, Melbourne Theatre Company and Opera Australia. The museum will be located on the upper terrace of the Hamer Hall building overlooking the Yarra River. It will initially have 500 sq m of exhibition space, and a second phase of construction will see this expand to about 800 sq m. Ticket prices will be accessible, promised Quinlan, and a program of two exhibitions a year will include international shows. A $1.7 billion program to revitalise Melbourne's arts precinct more broadly, including a new contemporary art gallery, is slated for completion in 2028. From Kylie Minogue's gold hotpants to a 19th-century cloak worn by Dame Nellie Melba, costumes which adorned Australia's stars of the stage will go on show at a new museum. The $3.5 million Australian Museum of Performing Arts, under construction inside Melbourne's Hamer Hall, is set to open in December. The space will be used to show off the Australian Performing Arts Collection of more than 850,000 costumes, props, posters and other memorabilia. The treasures include AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott's leather jacket, Dame Edna Everage's The Scream Dress, and Divinyls singer Chrissy Amphlett's tunic. There's also a journal by Nick Cave, a model of the Priscilla Queen of the Desert bus, and the puppet Ossie Ostrich from the TV program Hey Hey it's Saturday. The museum project started with $500,000 in state government funding, with the rest of the budget coming from philanthropists. At a media event on Monday, performer Lucy Durack paid tribute to the late Olivia Newton-John with a rendition of her 1978 hit Hopelessly Devoted To You, from the musical Grease. Behind her was a sparkling red gown Newton-John wore in 1980 to sing for Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Charity Concert at Sydney Opera House. Arts Centre Melbourne chief executive Karen Quinlan said she was hopelessly devoted to the collection, which was established in 1975 and estimated to be worth almost $80 million, but had mostly been kept in storage. Putting it on show at the museum would inspire people, she said. "This is the new kid on the block. This is going to be a game-changing moment for Melbourne and I'm really excited." The collection also houses items from some of the nation's most prestigious performing arts companies such as The Australian Ballet, Circus Oz, Melbourne Theatre Company and Opera Australia. The museum will be located on the upper terrace of the Hamer Hall building overlooking the Yarra River. It will initially have 500 sq m of exhibition space, and a second phase of construction will see this expand to about 800 sq m. Ticket prices will be accessible, promised Quinlan, and a program of two exhibitions a year will include international shows. A $1.7 billion program to revitalise Melbourne's arts precinct more broadly, including a new contemporary art gallery, is slated for completion in 2028.
Perth Now
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
A home for Kylie's hotpants at performing arts museum
From Kylie Minogue's gold hotpants to a 19th century cloak worn by Dame Nellie Melba, costumes worn by Australia's stars of the stage will go on show at a new museum. The $3.5 million Australian Museum of Performing Arts is currently under construction inside Melbourne's Hamer Hall, and set to open in December. The space will be used to show off the Australian Performing Arts Collection of more than 850,000 costumes, props, posters and other memorabilia. The treasures include AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott's leather jacket, Dame Edna Everage's The Scream Dress, and Divinyls singer Chrissy Amphlett's tunic. There's also a journal by Nick Cave, a model of the Priscilla Queen of the Desert bus, and the puppet Ossie Ostrich from the TV program Hey Hey it's Saturday. The museum project started with $500,000 in state government funding with the rest of the budget contributed by philanthropists. At a media event Monday, performer Lucy Durack paid tribute to the late Olivia Newton-John with a rendition of her 1978 hit Hopelessly Devoted To You from Grease: The Original Soundtrack. Behind her was a sparkling red gown from the collection that Newton-John wore to sing for Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Charity Concert at Sydney Opera House in 1980. Arts Centre Melbourne chief executive Karen Quinlan said she was hopelessly devoted to the collection, which was established in 1975 and is estimated to be worth almost $80 million, but has mostly been kept in storage. Putting it on show at the museum will inspire people, she said. "This is the new kid on the block, this is going to be a game changing moment for Melbourne, and I'm really excited." The museum will be located on the upper terrace of the Hamer Hall building overlooking the Yarra River. It will intially have 500 sq m of exhibition space, and a second phase of construction will see this expand to about 800 sq m. Ticket prices will be kept low, promised Quinlan, and a program of two exhibitions a year will include international shows. The museum is part of the $1.7 billion Melbourne arts precinct transformation project, which is slated for completion in 2028.
Sydney Morning Herald
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
A treasure trove of performing arts history is finally getting a new home
Down in the depths of Hamer Hall, behind a secret door, is a treasure trove of performing arts history. The drawers and cabinets all look simple and practically identical, but unless you're part of the curatorial team, the contents come as a complete surprise. One drawer is filled with ballet slippers, another with handwritten notes. A nearby shelf displays set models of plays long since passed, and the cupboards are filled with costumes, sequins and, unexpectedly, Ossie Ostrich from Hey Hey It's Saturday. 'We've got opera, we've got dance, we've got theatre, we've got magic, we've got comedy,' curator Sandra Bruce, director of collections and exhibitions at Arts Centre Melbourne, says with a laugh. Arts Centre Melbourne has been building the 850,000-item collection since 1975 – even before its first building opened in 1982 – and now, in the collection's 50th year, it is opening a new dedicated museum space to showcase the unique archive. In December, Arts Centre Melbourne will open the Australian Museum of Performing Arts in Hamer Hall, in the site formerly occupied by restaurant Fatto. The space will host two exhibitions a year, predominantly drawing on the centre's sizeable collection, with the goal of not simply putting items on display, but telling some of the many stories that have long remained untold. 'We've always known that there's this amazing Australian performing arts collection,' says Bruce. 'It sounds a bit corny, but to be able to bring it back up into the light and to share it with the public I think is very exciting and very important.' The collection has been a priority for Arts Centre Melbourne CEO Karen Quinlan from very early on. 'The conversation started, really, at the very beginning with my first interview for the job,' she says. 'When I started in the role, I was very aware of the collection, and I also knew that I would do something with it.' Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks underscores the importance of the new space, saying the museum will 'showcase our national collection at a scale never before possible'.
The Age
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
A treasure trove of performing arts history is finally getting a new home
Down in the depths of Hamer Hall, behind a secret door, is a treasure trove of performing arts history. The drawers and cabinets all look simple and practically identical, but unless you're part of the curatorial team, the contents come as a complete surprise. One drawer is filled with ballet slippers, another with handwritten notes. A nearby shelf displays set models of plays long since passed, and the cupboards are filled with costumes, sequins and, unexpectedly, Ossie Ostrich from Hey Hey It's Saturday. 'We've got opera, we've got dance, we've got theatre, we've got magic, we've got comedy,' curator Sandra Bruce, director of collections and exhibitions at Arts Centre Melbourne, says with a laugh. Arts Centre Melbourne has been building the 850,000-item collection since 1975 – even before its first building opened in 1982 – and now, in the collection's 50th year, it is opening a new dedicated museum space to showcase the unique archive. In December, Arts Centre Melbourne will open the Australian Museum of Performing Arts in Hamer Hall, in the site formerly occupied by restaurant Fatto. The space will host two exhibitions a year, predominantly drawing on the centre's sizeable collection, with the goal of not simply putting items on display, but telling some of the many stories that have long remained untold. 'We've always known that there's this amazing Australian performing arts collection,' says Bruce. 'It sounds a bit corny, but to be able to bring it back up into the light and to share it with the public I think is very exciting and very important.' The collection has been a priority for Arts Centre Melbourne CEO Karen Quinlan from very early on. 'The conversation started, really, at the very beginning with my first interview for the job,' she says. 'When I started in the role, I was very aware of the collection, and I also knew that I would do something with it.' Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks underscores the importance of the new space, saying the museum will 'showcase our national collection at a scale never before possible'.
