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  • Arts Centre Melbourne
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One of the compactors used in the Australian Performing Arts Collection's storage facility, showing a line of garments, protected by garment covers, hanging up on a rail.
Exhibitions & Collections

Australian Performing Arts Collection

We’re thrilled to announce that Australian Performing Arts Collection project was acknowledged in AMaGA’s 2023 National Awards as a Highly Commended Sustainability Project.

The new walls were constructed using XFLAM, a 100% recyclable material that is low toxicity and has superior insulation values resulting in reduced heating and cooling requirements. The build also utilised modular materials and hardware, making it multi-functional and allowing greater flexibility to re-configure to ever changing needs.

With thanks to funding from Creative Victoria and generous donors, Australian Performing Arts Collection project is well underway, in the form of the Collections Store.

Preserving our past and expanding into our future.

Arts Centre Melbourne is the very proud custodian of two nationally significant and unique collections: the Australian Performing Arts Collection (APAC), which tells the unique and wonderful story of Australia’s performing arts history and traditions; and the Public Art Collection, which celebrates the performing arts through the works of Australia’s most significant visual artists.

For nearly three decades Arts Centre Melbourne has been charged with the task of both growing and preserving these collections on behalf of the people of Victoria.

With over 850,000 objects, our collections storage has been an ongoing challenge and this has prompted the exploration of new opportunities to expand the existing Hamer Hall storage facility. With thanks to funding from Creative Victoria and generous donors, the Australian Performing Arts Collection project is well underway. You can read more about this project in Revealing Hidden Treasure.

 

Tours of the Collection

On 10 September 2023, behind-the-scenes tours of the Australian Performing Arts Collection (APAC) will commence at the Collections Store, located at Hamer Hall. The tours will shed light on how the curatorial team work to develop, manage, preserve and share the collection, which spans circus, dance, music, opera and theatre.

We’re excited to reveal our workspace that will allow the public a glimpse into the collection and the highly specialised work that goes into maintaining it.

Book a spot on the tour here: APAC Tours


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Donate today and you’ll help preserve, digitise and exhibit the Australian Performing Arts Collection, support future stages of the Collections Store and ensure the Collection can be enjoyed by future generations.

 

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Australian Performing Arts Collection and the Collections Store has been made possible by the generous philanthropic support of Virginia and Harry Boon and funding from Creative Victoria.

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