Australian Museum of Performing Arts

The Australian Museum of Performing Arts (AMPA) in Arts Centre Melbourne is now open.

AMPA showcases the incredible Australian Performing Arts Collection, an archive of over 850,000 items related to circus, dance, music, opera, theatre, and popular entertainment.

The museum aims to bring the stories of the stage to life through iconic performers and a rich theatrical legacy.

Location: Hamer Hall, part of the Arts Centre Melbourne.

Background

For 50 years, Australia's vibrant contributions to music, theatre, opera, circus, and dance have been carefully documented, preserved, and sometimes showcased thanks to the Australian Performing Arts Collection.

With over 850,000 objects housed at Arts Centre Melbourne, it's the largest collection dedicated to our performing arts history. It's a treasure trove that deserves to be on display, and now, even though not every item can be front and center all the time, they soon will be.

The Australian Performing Arts Collection is truly a national gem, containing iconic items from legends like Kylie Minogue, Hugh Jackman, Nick Cave, Peter Allen, Chrissy Amphlett, and Olivia Newton-John, as well as treasures from the Australian Ballet, Circus Oz, Melbourne Theatre Company, and Opera Australia.

While the specific items on display in December are still under wraps, the collection includes Minogue's iconic gold hot pants from her 'Spinning Around' music video, Jackman's costumes from The Boy From Oz, Cave's visual journal (the Handmade Book), maracas from Peter Allen's performances, Amphlett's tunic, and Bon Scott's leather jacket from AC/DC. The collection also includes Dame Nellie Melba's cloak from Lohengrin, Joan Sutherland's costume from Lucrezia Borgia, Helen Reddy's Grammy for I Am Woman, and a set model from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, to name just a few.