Australia's performing arts history is rich and full – it's an endless tapestry stitched intricately with hundreds of years of entertaining and delighting audiences through music, theatre and dance.
This enduring art form deserves to be reflected on in the most meaningful way possible.
Luckily, Arts Centre Melbourne has opened the doors to more than 850,000 objects in its Australian Performing Arts Collection (APAC) Store, giving the public an exciting opportunity to tour the archives and get an insight into what it takes to develop, manage and preserve the materials. scenestr was generously given an exclusive look into the corridors of the Store, where a hefty slice of Australia's hallowed artistic past resides.
The Australian Performing Arts Collection was established in 1975, and is the nation's largest collection of performing arts cultural heritage, spanning across the five key collecting areas: circus, dance, music, opera, and theatre.
The APAC Tours are a fascinating glimpse into the many art forms Australia has explored and presented – there are pieces from Circus Oz, Opera Australia, Dame Nellie Melba, Peter Allen, Dame Edna, and even stage models for theatrical productions like 'Summer Of The Seventeenth Doll' and 'Priscilla Queen Of The Desert – The Musical'. It's a visual feast and an important reminder of the incredible efforts of those in the industry. . . A vast repository of costumes, accessories, designs, props, photographs, posters, and more.
Image © Eugene Hyland
Each tour session is a maximum of 15 people. This makes for an intimate and informative experience, as attendees get to see historic pieces up close, and get the opportunity to ask questions.
One of the most popular drawcards of Arts Centre Melbourne's Australian Performing Arts Collection Tours is the pieces donated by none other than our pop princess, Kylie Minogue.
Currently taking over Las Vegas with her 'More Than Just A Residency', as well as enjoying a pop culture resurgence with 'Padam Padam' and her album 'Tension', Kylie Minogue is the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time and has enjoyed continued musical success since the release of her debut single 'Locomotion' in 1987.
Countless albums, singles, music videos and tours means that Kylie's career has been colourful to say the least. She's worked with a number of designers through the course of her career such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Dolce And Gabbana and Alexander McQueen, and luckily for Arts Centre Melbourne, she's been gracious enough to donate instalments of her collection over the years.
A selection of these donations is available for the public to see as part of the Australian Performing Arts Collection Tours – like a certain pair of gold hot pants from Kylie's 'Spinning Around' music video, and a shimmering, intricate pink corset and headpiece worn on her 'Intimate & Live' tour.
Perhaps the only thing more interesting and exciting about seeing iconic pieces like these in the flesh, is hearing the stories behind them. Tour participants are treated to stories about all the objects in the collection, and learn about the specialists, processes and techniques behind preserving them. This is especially fascinating for some of the older objects in the wider collection, dating back to the 1800s.
Part of the experience is getting to see the recent upgrade and expansion of the Collections Store, and the conservation lab where objects are preserved onsite.
Image © Eugene Hyland
“Providing access to the Australian Performing Arts Collection has the potential to stimulate creativity, curiosity, dialogue, increased knowledge and a greater sense of connection and wellbeing for the people of Victoria and its visitors,” Arts Centre Melbourne Head of Collections, Preservation and Access Samantha Hamilton says.
“By opening our new storage, research and education facility, visitors will have the opportunity to participate in a unique Melbourne experience which complements our exhibitions and displays. A tour of the Collections Store will offer further access to our wonderful State assets through a behind the scenes experience into what it takes to develop, manage, preserve, and share this inspiring and entertaining collection.”
Arts Centre Melbourne's Australian Performing Arts Collection Tours take place every Sunday.
