Performing Arts Collection

The Performing Arts Collection at the Arts Centre, Melbourne is the largest specialist performing arts collection in Australia, with over 450,000 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 Archives of the Dance
• 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
• Peter Allen Collection
• Juke Magazine Archive
• Ashton Family Circuses Collection
• Kristian Fredrikson Collection
• Kenneth Rowell Collection

Exhibitions

The Performing Arts Collection holds frequent exhibitions in its galleries (Gallery 1, Gallery 2, St Kilda Road Foyer Gallery and Smorgan Family Plaza). Exhibitions subjects have included AC/DC, Kylie Minogue, Peter Allen, and Nick Cave.

Virtual Galleries

• Icon Gallery
• Kylie: the costume collection
• Leading Ladies
• Drawn, Worn, Reborn : the Split Enz Costume Collection
• Rock Snaps : Photographs from the Laurie Richards Collection
• Fools’ Paradise
• A Step in Time : 40 Years of The Australian Ballet
• Sidney Myer Music Bowl : 50th Anniversary

Directors

• Frank van Straten (1984-1993)
• Janine Barrand

References

• Cultural collections ([Melbourne], Vic. : Victorian Arts Centre, [2003])

External links

• Collections & Research, the Arts Centre, Melbourne