Australian Performing Arts Collection
The Performing Arts Collection at Arts Centre Melbourne is the largest specialist performing arts collection in Australia, with over 600,000 items relating to the history of circus, dance, music, opera and theatre in Australia and of Australian performers overseas.
History
The Performing Arts Collection was established as the Performing Arts Museum in 1979.
Highlights of the collections
- The Australian Ballet Collection
- J.C. Williamson Theatres Ltd Collection
- Nellie Melba collections, including the Nellie Melba Stage Wardrobe and the John Lemmone Collection
- Kylie Minogue Collection
- Nick Cave Collection
- Barry Humphries Collection
- Peter Allen Collection
- Juke Magazine Archive
- Ashton Family Circuses Collection
- Circus Oz Collection
- Sydney Dance Company Collection, and personal collections from Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon
- Kristian Fredrikson Collection
- Kenneth Rowell Collection
- Reg Livermore Collection
- Bell Shakespeare Collection
- Chamber Made Opera Company Collection
- Playbox Theatre Company Collection
- Kenn Brodziak Collection, relating to The Beatles Australian Tour
- Chunky Move Collection
- Handspan Theatre Collection
- Split Enz Costume Collection
- Australian Archives of the Dance
Exhibitions
The Performing Arts Collection holds frequent exhibitions in its galleries (Gallery 1, Gallery 2, St Kilda Road Foyer Gallery and Smorgon Family Plaza). Exhibitions subjects have included AC/DC, Kylie Minogue, Peter Allen, and Nick Cave and have toured nationally and internationally.
Directors
- Frank van Straten (1984-1993)
- Janine Barrand