Australian Museum Of Performing Arts To Open In Melbourne's Hamer Hall
Items from Chrissy Amphlett, Kylie Minogue, Bon Scott, Nick Cave, and myriad others will be on display at the newly-announced Australian Museum Of Performing Arts.
Chrissy Amphlett (Credit: Supplied)
Arts Centre Melbourne has today announced that this December will see the opening of the new Australian Museum Of Performing Arts (AMPA) at the iconic Hamer Hall.
The forthcoming AMPA looks to present exclusive exhibitions which showcase rare objects from the Australian Performing Arts Collection while also offering touring international performing arts exhibitions. The Collection itself is the country's largest repository celebrating the performing arts, and contains more than 850,000 objects relating to the history of circus, dance, music, opera and theatre.
On the music front, that includes costumes and objects from the likes of Kylie Minogue, Nick Cave, Barry Humphries, Chrissy Amphlett, Hugh Jackman, Peter Allen, and even Dames Nellie Melba, Joan Sutherland, Olivia Newton-John and Edna Everage.
In terms of the performing arts institutions, this also includes objects and artifacts from the likes of the Australian Ballet, Circus Oz, Melbourne Theatre Company, and Opera Australia, with Arts Centre Melbourne serving as the custodian of the Collection.
Some of the items on display include Minogue’s gold hot pants, maracas used by Peter Allen, Helen Reddy’s Grammy award for I Am Woman, a leather jacket of late AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott, and the famous tunic worn by the Divinyls’ Chrissy Amphlett.
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“The new Australian Museum of Performing Arts will be an exciting new cultural destination in the heart of the city that will cement Melbourne’s reputation as Australia's cultural capital,” said Minister for Creative Industries The Hon. Colin Brooks MP.
“Victoria has long been the beating heart of Australia’s performing arts, and AMPA will honour that rich legacy while inspiring future generations. It will not only showcase our national collection at a scale never before possible but also strengthen our visitor economy and cultural reputation on the world stage.”
“I’m so pleased to be bringing to life the long-held vision to make the riches of the Australian Performing Arts Collection more accessible to the Victorian community through new and expanded spaces,” echoed Arts Centre Melbourne CEO Karen Quinlan AM.
“Through treasured objects, iconic performers and a rich theatrical legacy, AMPA will enable us to share with the world the incredible performing arts history and stories of the stages of Australia and beyond.”
The opening of AMPA will arrive in phases, with phase one seeing it opened to the public in December 2025, with almost 500 square metres dedicated to showcasing curated exhibitions including international touring exhibitions. Phase two will see the AMPA grow to approximately 800 square metres.
Its first exhibition will be announced in September, with eager patrons urged to stay tuned for further information.
This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body
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