The Australian Music Vault is a new free exhibition sharing the story of Australian contemporary music and where Australian music is headed in the future. It opens at Melbourne’s Arts Centre on Tuesday December 19. Created in collaboration with music industry professionals and funded by the Victorian Government, the free exhibition displays iconic items from people, events and places that define Australian music.
Founding contributors include Kylie Minogue, Archie Roach, Molly Meldrum and Michael Gudinski, whose items are on show alongside those from AC/DC, Men at Work, Split Enz, Midnight Oil, The Seekers, Tina Arena, Olivia Newton John, Johnny O’Keefe, Skyhooks, Daddy Cool, Divinyls, Paul Kelly, Jessica Mauboy, Dami Im, Cold Chisel, Missy Higgins, Silverchair, Bliss nEso, John Farnham, Yothu Yindi, Nick Cave, Spiderbait, Ecca Vandal, Courtney Barnett and more.
“Australia has a proud contemporary music history and a proud live music culture, especially here in Victoria,” says Martin Foley, Victoria’s Minister for Creative Industries. “This is an important part of who we are and it’s something to celebrate.”
The vault is not chronological or ordered by genre, but rather rotates between content to profile as many contributors as possible. Themes are broad in scope such as The Real Thing, which explores whether there is an ‘Australian voice’. This theme explores influences, lyrics, and venues while searching for an ‘Australian sound’. The vault is designed to also celebrate the people who aren’t necessarily household names; less well-known artists and industry professionals.
Themes of music tribes such as punk and new wave will explore how music brings people together, as well as identity and belonging. This includes the network between performers, venues, DIY recording studios, distribution and publishing.
