Arts Centre Melbourne will open a brand-new museum, honouring Australia’s performing arts legacy, this December.
The Australian Museum Of Performing Arts (AMPA) will be located at the iconic Hamer Hall, in the upper terrace, overlooking the Birrarung (Yarra River). It will feature exclusive exhibitions with rare and treasured objects from the Australian Performing Arts Collection, as well as a display of the best touring international performing arts exhibitions.
The Australian Performing Arts Collection, currently located at Arts Centre Melbourne, is the nation’s largest repository celebrating the performing arts. It contains more than 850,000 objects relating to the history of circus, dance, music, opera and theatre. In it, is elaborate costumes and rare objects from stars of the Australian stage such as Kylie Minogue, Barry Humphries, Nick Cave, Hugh Jackman, Peter Allen, Chrissy Amphlett, and Dames Nellie Melba, Joan Sutherland, Olivia Newton-John, and Edna Everage.
Plus, there are objects and costumes from The Australian Ballet, Circus Oz, Melbourne Theatre Company and Opera Australia.
AMPA will be delivered in phases. In Phase One, it will open to the public in December 2025, with almost 500 square metres dedicated to showcasing curated exhibitions. In Phase Two, AMPA will grow to approximately 800 square metres.
AMPA’s first exhibition will be announced in September.
“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,” Arts Centre Melbourne CEO Karen Quinlan AM says. “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.”
Australian Museum Of Performing Arts will open at Hamer Hall (Melbourne) in December 2025.
