Things to do - Art & Culture
Architecture
Parliament House
Australia’s Parliament House, constructed in 1988 is concrete proof of Australian achievement in construction and architecture. The building’s architect, Ronaldo Giurgola and his family later became Australian citizens. The building is primarily underground, with the roof blending into the lawn of Capitol Hill. Parliament House is the focal point of Canberra, Australia’s capital city.
Opera House
The Opera House, with its huge white sail-like wings, has become such an iconic image of Sydney that it needs practically no introduction. Unveiled in 1973 and loved by the Australian public ever since, the huge building was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon. The building is 63 metres high and the lowest point is actually below sea level – the orchestra pit of the Drama Theatre.
Melbourne Museum
The Melbourne Museum is the largest museum complex in the southern hemisphere, and is known not only for its huge collection but also for its unique structure. Designed by architectural agency Denton Corker Marshall, the focal point of the building is a 3-storey, 150 metre-long wall made out of glass.
Federation Square
Federation Square is located right in the centre of Melbourne. It is a focal point of the city centre and a great place for visitors to start exploring. Its unique architectural style has caused some controversy among Melbournians, some of whom love the place, others who are less enthusiastic. Either way, it’s an interesting structure and certainly a striking place to visit.
Galleries
National Gallery of Australia
The National Gallery of Australia should be compulsory viewing for any visitor to Australia with an interest in art. The Gallery has an amazing collection of Australian art which is complemented by works by well known artists such as Picasso, Rodin, Warhol and Pollock. The Gallery showcases not only modern Australian art but also examples of the oldest artistic tradition in the world, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.
National Gallery of Victoria
The National Gallery of Victoria houses part of its impressive collection at Federation Square in Melbourne. It has an interesting mixture of traditional European and traditionally influenced art, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks.
Museum of Contemporary Art
Located at Circular Quay in Sydney, the Museum of Contemporary Art is the best place in Australia to check out the freshest developments in the art, performance and installation scene. As well as art, the MCA also offers lectures in a variety of subjects.
National Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery in Canberra can be found in the former Federal Parliament building. It has a permanent collection of Australian portraits as well as a range of changing international exhibitions. All the portraits are of Australian citizens who have distinguished themselves in some way.
Art Gallery of Western Australia
The Art Gallery of Western Australia has a particular focus on the art of the local Aboriginal people, and includes not only paintings, but also decorative arts, sculptures and crafts, as well as artworks from the rest of Australia and the world.
Alice Springs Aboriginal Art and Culture Centre
The Alice Springs Aboriginal Art and Culture Centre is owned and operated entirely by the Aboriginal community. It features local artists and the work created by the artists is for sale through the gallery. Visiting the Art and Culture centre is a fantastic way to learn about real Aboriginal culture.
Live Theatre
Sydney Theatre Company
The mainstay of the Sydney Theatre Company is interesting and innovative modern work, including plays, musicals, entertainment and dance productions. The Sydney Theatre Company was established in 1979 by the New South Wales Government and has since proved itself as an excellent example of the good that government grants to the arts can do. The Sydney Theatre Company puts on a range of productions each year.
Melbourne Theatre Company
The Melbourne Theatre Company has a brilliant reputation for not only professionalism, but innovation and excellence. The Melbourne Theatre Company is famous for producing contemporary works that, despite sometimes challenging themes, are able to transfix their audience and really come alive as classics.
Darwin Theatre Company
The Darwin Theatre Company began as an amateur repertory group and has since grown to become a nationally funded organisation with a commitment to high quality productions. The Darwin Theatre Company is well known for presenting classic productions such as Les Miserables and many of Shakespeare’s works. They are the only professional theatre company in the Northern Territory.
Dance & Music
Sydney Dance Company
The Sydney Dance Company has been internationally applauded for the innovative and exciting direction it has taken under the direction of choreographer Graeme Murphy. The company has performed in 100 cities in 22 countries; they have performed 26 full length ballets, many of which featured scores commissioned of Australian artists. They are a creative force to be reckoned with and represent the cutting edge of performance in Australia.
Australian Ballet
The Australian Ballet comprises over 70 dancers and is committed to sharing the beauty of classical dance with a wide audience. The company tours frequently and performs more than 200 shows each year. The company has a famously balanced repertoire and has been performing since 1967, when it danced Swan Lake in Sydney at Her Majesty’s Theatre.
Tamworth Country Music Festival
Each January the rural town of Tamworth becomes packed to the rafters with ecstatic country music fans, eager to experience the magic that is days of amateur and professional performers playing a range of styles and genres.
Homebake
Homebake is Australia’s own annual rock festival, held each December in the Domain (a park in Sydney). It features Australian artists and by its own admission is committed to showcasing ‘the best that Australian music has to offer’. Homebake is an extremely popular event and tickets have been known to sell out the day they go on sale.
Bangarra Dance Theatre
The Bangarra Dance Theatre, based at the Wharf in Sydney, is heavily influenced by traditional Aboriginal art forms. It often melds traditional Aboriginal dance with modern urban influences and is extremely highly regarded by the dance industry. The Bangarra Dance Theatre tours regularly and has in the past collaborated with the Australian Ballet.
Australian Chamber Orchestra
The ACO is Australia’s national orchestra and has a great reputation for being not only professional, but also adventurous when it comes to programming. The ACO presents roughly 80 performances annually, and tours throughout Australia and internationally.
Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park
This cultural centre in Queensland plays host to one of the best Aboriginal dance presentations in Australia. The dance routines are a blend of traditional and modern styles, and use modern technology to create spellbinding visual effects.
Aboriginal Music
The Aboriginal band Yothu Yindi produce some of the most interesting and unique music in Australia. They blend ancient song cycles and traditional instruments with modern pop sounds in order to promote not only the traditional culture of the Yolngu people, but also the issues facing Aboriginal people today.
Exhibitions, Shows & Festivals
Floriade
Floriade, held each September in Canberra, is a month-long celebration of spring. Commonwealth Park acts as a canvas for thousands of beautiful colourful flowers, all planted to bloom at the same time. Floriade is not just about flowers, however. To accompany the festival are also musical performances, entertainment and children’s activities, cultural celebrations and much more.
Sydney Festival
The Sydney Festival runs for the month of January and is Australia’s largest cultural event. The festival encompasses short film, performance art, music, dance and visual arts, among other varieties of creative expression. One of the best parts of the Sydney Festival is the fact that the organisers regularly put on free concerts. Attendance is usually high, so would be concert-goers should be well advised to get there early to stake their claim on a picnic spot in whichever picturesque park happens to be hosting the action.
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival, held each year in April, is an extremely popular comedy festival which draws performers not only from all corners of Australia but also the world. The festival consists of over 2,300 individual performances and attracts an audience of over 365 000 each year, putting it on par with other international comedy festivals such as that of Edinburgh and Montreal.
Adelaide Fringe Festival
The Adelaide Fringe Festival, held each year in March, is a festival that is basically open to any kind of artist. Jugglers, acrobats, writers: they can all have a go at getting their work out there at the Fringe Festival, which exists to give new artists a platform on which to show their work.
Tamar Valley Folk Festival
The Tamar Valley Folk Festival is held during January in the Tamar Valley in Northern Tasmania. The festival consists of concerts, dances, various teaching workshops on playing fiddle, flute, pipes, guitar, banjo, Celtic instruments, harmony singing, stories and poetry workshops, including activities for children.
The venues are all under cover and set in beautiful surroundings of the Tamar River and historic town of George Town.
Woodford Folk Festival
The Woodford Folk Festival is an internationally recognised folk festival held each year in the town of Woodford in Queensland. It is famous for its multicultural, multi-genre approach to music and performance.
Blues at Bridgetown
Blues at Bridgetown is Western Australia’s best blues festival. It is held every November in the town of Bridgetown and goes for three days, featuring national and international blues artist and drawing a crowd of up to 16,000 visitors.
Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras
The Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is one of the most famous gay and lesbian events in the world and one of the best costume events in the world. It is held annually on a Saturday night in early March. The Mardi Gras is obviously a predominantly gay and lesbian event, but straight people are welcome to come and party as well. The focal point of the Mardi Gras is the night time march/parade, which has floats and spectacular costumes. The Mardi Gras Parade is said to be one of the biggest night time parades in the world.
Sydney Royal Easter Show
A favourite with families, teenagers and travellers alike, the Royal Easter Show is held over twelve days and coincides with Easter. The Show is a great place to see agricultural produce and animals, with huge halls devoted to showing the best Australia has to offer. Don’t miss the produce hall, in which huge amounts of fruit and vegetables are arranged to form spectacular landscapes. There are also rides and games to play, and displays of sports, dance and music.
Aboriginal Culture
There are many festivals devoted to Aboriginal culture, the biggest of which is the Garma Festival, held each August. The Garma Festival is a five day celebration of Yolngu culture. The Yolngu people are the traditional inhabitants of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. The festival is a great way to get a feel for traditional Aboriginal dance, song, crafts and design.
Museums
National Museum of Australia
The National Museum of Australia in Canberra is dedicated first and foremost to the people of Australia: the experiences, events and people that have shaped the nation and helped us become the people we are today. There are plenty of stories from Australia’s past, many of which are told in a hands-on, interactive way.
Powerhouse Museum
The Powerhouse Museum is built on the site of a former electricity station in Sydney. The museum is mostly devoted to science and technology, although there is an excellent section on fashion, and another on Australia’s cultural icons such as Vegemite. The Powerhouse Museum is definitely not to be missed- it’s fun, it’s interactive and there’s plenty to look at and learn.
Melbourne Museum
The Melbourne Museum is the largest in the southern hemisphere, with sections devoted to Aboriginal history and culture, known as Bunjilaka; a gallery of Pacific artifacts, Pacifika; a Science and Life gallery; a Living Forest Gallery; a Children’s Museum, as well as a theatre. Not only this, but the Melbourne Museum is also home to one of Australia’s real national treasures: the body of Phar Lap, an incredible racehorse who died under suspicious circumstances in the USA in 1932.
Australian National Maritime Museum
The Australian National Maritime Museum has the perfect location: directly on Sydney Harbour. This museum is devoted to Australia’s seafaring past and features not only traditional historic ships, but also migrant vessels. The museum also has a range of ships permanently moored in the harbour. Special admission tickets will allow you to actually get on the ships and have a look around.
Australian War Memorial
The main function of the Australian War Memorial is to serve as a reminder of the sacrifice made by the men and women who fought and died for Australia. It’s regarded as one of the most impressive war memorials in the world, including exhibits on the conflicts in which Australia has fought and former fighter planes. The most solemn (and yet beautiful) parts of the Memorial are the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier, and also the Hall of Memory, which provides a place of quiet contemplation for visitors.
Museum of Central Australia
The Museum of Central Australia exists to further explain and explore the unique geology, biology, geography and paleontology of one of the most isolated places in the world. The Museum features interesting specimens of rock, fossils, plants and animals.
Jewish Museum of Australia
The Jewish Museum of Australia, located in Melbourne’s St. Kilda, provides an interesting insight into some of the cultural diversity present in Australian society. The museum has information on Jewish custom and ritual as well as the experiences of Jews in Australia and the perception of Judaism by non-Jewish Australians.