Happy birthday to the Australian Music Vault (AMV) which celebrated its fifth birthday on 19 December.
Opened in 2017, the AMV is a hub and a home for Australia’s contemporary music story – past, present and future. A free exhibition space with an accompanying program of events and online experiences, AMV is a place to explore music, revisit some of the big music moments and discover the exciting new stories of today’s Australian music scene.
The brain-child of the late great Michael Gudinski AM and created as part of the Victorian Government's Music Works initiative, the Vault was developed by Arts Centre Melbourne in collaboration with the music industry.
Since opening, the AMV has welcomed just under 2 million visitors to the exhibition, represented over 250 artists, had over 650 objects on display and welcomed over 140 schools into the space.
The free, permanent exhibition showcases iconic objects from the Australian Performing Arts Collection alongside an ongoing calendar of creative learning programs, public events, live performances, bus tours, associated programs, touring exhibitions and digital experiences demonstrating just how integral contemporary music is to this country.
Some of the artists represented in the AMV include Baker Boy, Dami Im, Deborah Conway, John Farnham, Missy Higgins, Mo’Ju, Nick Cave, Olivia Newton-John, Tash Sultana and Tony Cohen.
Online, the ongoing Long Play Series features long-form interviews with some of the country’s most influential trailblazers and unsung heroes, and has been viewed collectively by over 250,000 people. Some of the incredible artists who have opened up about their lives include Emma Donovan, Glenn Wheatley, Peter Garrett, Colin Hay, Dr Lou Bennett and Courtney Barnett.
The AMV founding patrons are legendary music industry figures Molly Meldrum AM, Kylie Minogue AO OBE, Tina Arena AM and the late Archie Roach AM and Michael Gudinski AM.
The Australian Music Vault’s free exhibition is open daily from 10am to 5pm at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Theatres Building, beneath the iconic Spire and you can access AMV’s online programs anytime.