October 16, 2017 Sydney, Australia: – The Australian Museum has celebrated its 190th year with the official opening of one of the greatest collections of treasures in the nation’s history, in the newly-restored Westpac Long Gallery.
News Corp and Fairfax Media capitalised on the landmark opening of the new permanent exhibition, 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum, by producing full-paper wraps of the event across the weekend of October 14 and 15.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s editorial coverage features some of the most significant items in the exhibition, such as a feathered cape given to Captain Cook on his third Pacific voyage and a skeleton horse and its rider. The Sunday Telegraph’s wrap, sponsored by Westpac, highlights the exhibition’s selection of the people who have helped shape the nation through contributions to history, science, nature or culture, such as Cathy Freeman, Professor Fred Hollows and Kylie Minogue.
The opening of the exhibition in the Australian Museum’s newly-restored Westpac Long Gallery attracted widespread media coverage across print, television, radio and online, including primetime news on all national television networks, weekend features on ABC News Breakfast and Channel Seven’s Sunrise, plus ABC and commercial radio segments such as ABC Radio Sydney with Robbie Buck, 2GB with Alan Jones and ABC Radio National’s PM with Linda Mottram.
The restoration of the Westpac Long Gallery and 200 Treasures exhibition represent the Australian Museum’s single-largest corporate partnership and one of the most significant for a major cultural institution in recent years. The historic partnership between Westpac, Australia’s first bank, and the Australian Museum, the nation’s first museum, demonstrates the museum’s commitment to developing collaborative and sustainable financial models.
The $9 million restoration and new permanent exhibition were funded in equal partnership between Westpac, the NSW Government and the Australian Museum Foundation.
An extensive marketing, advertising and PR campaign has been rolled out around the official opening of 200 Treasures on October 13 by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Westpac CEO Brian Hartzer, NSW Arts Minister Don Harwin and some of the treasured Australians who feature in the exhibition, including broadcaster Ita Buttrose, film director George Miller and architect Glenn Murcutt.
“It is the largest marketing and communications campaign undertaken by the AM in recent history,” said Director and CEO of the Australian Museum, Ms Kim McKay.
“This gallery and exhibition is a game-changer for Sydney and the AM and the campaign creative reflects the significance of the Museum in our cultural landscape.”
The campaign creative is jointly produced by Therese Leuver/303 Mullenlowe and the Australian Museum design team, and integrates outdoor and print ads, including large format billboards at Sydney airport and other prominent city locations.
Sydney’s CBD is awash with striking street flags promoting the exhibition’s tag line “Uncover Hidden Stories” – along with images of crystals, skeletons and fossils – to entice local and international visitors inside the Australian Museum. P
In celebration of the exhibition opening, Westpac has also sponsored 200 Treasures Up in Lights, a giant animated projection and light show designed and produced by AGB Events and its director Anthony Bastic, curator of the internationally-celebrated Vivid Light walk, for Vivid Sydney. The 20-metre high, 19 th century sandstone façade of the Australian Museum is being transformed after dark for 10 nights from October 13 through to October 22, from sunset to 11pm.
Illuminated images of the treasured objects and people who have helped shape the nation, including crystals, creatures and skeletons several storeys tall are projected as part of the light show, which stretches 42 metres by 11 metres (larger than the size of a basketball court), near the corners of William and College streets in the CBD. Thousands of passersby are expected to share the experience using #200Treasures.
About the 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum
The new permanent exhibition celebrates the objects and people who have shaped the nation. The launch of the exhibition also marks the reopening of Australia’s first museum gallery, after almost two years of restoration, conservation and exhibition design. Now known as the Westpac Long Gallery, its collection reveals intriguing stories about Australia and the world. The Australian Museum marked its 190-year history by showcasing 100 of the most important and intriguing items in its collection of more than 18 million objects, along with two objects on loan: Australia’s first bank note, on loan from Westpac (which marks its 200th year in 2017); and a 10-kilogram gold nugget discovered in 1887, on loan from the NSW Government. The 100 treasured objects are matched by 100 people who have helped shape the nation through contributions to history, science, nature or culture, such as Cathy Freeman, Sir Donald Bradman and Professor Fred Hollows.
About the Australian Museum
The AM, founded in 1827, is the nation’s first museum, and is an internationally recognised natural science and culture institution focused on Australia and the Pacific. As custodian of more than 18 million objects, the AM is uniquely positioned to provide a greater understanding of the region through its scientific research, exhibitions and public and education programs. Through the Australian Museum Research Institute, the AM also has a leading role in conserving Australia’s biodiversity through understanding the environmental impacts of climate change, potential biosecurity threats and invasive species.
About Westpac
Westpac Banking Corporation (Westpac) was founded in 1817 and was the first bank established in Australia. Today, the Westpac Group has branches throughout Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea and maintains offices in key financial centres around the world including London, New York, Hong Kong, mainland China, Singapore and India. Westpac Group employs approximately 40,000 people and has five key divisions through which it serves more than 13 million customers.
Media Site
https://foto.australianmuseum.net.au/fotoweb/
Social Media: #200 Treasures
Twitter: @austmus
Instagram: @Australianmuseum
For high res images and digital media kit, please visit the AM’s press site:
https://foto.australianmuseum.net.au/fotoweb/
For interviews, please contact the AM media team:
Claire Vince Media and Communications Advisor | Marketing & Communications
claire.vince@austmus.gov.au T 61 2 9320 6181 M 61 468 726 910
Karen Eck Media Director | eckfactor
karen@eckfactor.com T 61 438 532 569
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