Apac Reveal: unlocking the potential of the Australian Performing Arts Collection through open and visible storage

Abstract

The world of collections storage is changing. While storage is often a challenging problem to solve because of the ever-increasing footprint requirements and associated resource costs, there is a shift within the Galleries, Libraries, Archies and Museums (GLAM) sector involving greater public access to our vast and hidden collections. This is causing some discomfort but also many opportunities. Purpose-built facilities are being designed using sustainable materials and methods, and the behind-the-scenes is being revealed. This is bringing the back-of-house to the front and generating greater awareness, value, new investment, and partnership models. This paper will share the transformational storage project at Arts Centre Melbourne referred to as the APAC Reveal. It will present the challenges and issues of developing, managing, preserving, and sharing a significant State Collection within Australia's largest performing arts organisation. It will also impart the journey of change through innovation and how building relationships, working collaboratively, thinking creatively, and testing revised ways of working, can produce opportunities which unlock the potential for a collection, staff, industry, stakeholders, and communities.

Keywords:

• Open and visible storage
• Change management
• Access
• Preservation‌

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to sincerely thank and acknowledge Virginia and Harry Boon, the Maxwell and Merle Carrol bequest, the Suzette Chapple bequest, and Creative Victoria for their generous funding support. The authors would also like to deeply thank and acknowledge the many ACM permanent and temporary staff members, interns, and external stakeholders who believed in, contributed and worked hard to deliver this transformative project. Without their support this vision, the project and beneficial outcomes would not have materialised.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article

Notes

1 For information about the impact of COVID-19 in Melbourne refer to the Inquiry into the Victorian Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic reports (Public Accounts and Estimates Committee 2020, 2021).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Samantha Hamilton

Samantha Hamilton is the CEO of Rock Art Australia and the former Head of Collections, Preservation and Access at Arts Centre Melbourne (ACM). At ACM she led the APAC Reveal project and the collections management, conservation and access teams and programs including exhibitions and digital innovation. In previous roles she spent over 16 years working as a conservator in various national and international institutions and in private practice. Samantha’s passion lies in people-centred methodologies which enable community agency, innovation and access to collections to generate value and impact.

Amanda Meiklejohn

Amanda Meiklejohn is a Senior Associate at Williams Ross Architects and leads the Interior Architecture. She has over 12 years’ experience in commercial architecture ranging from cultural and community projects to education, workplace, performing arts and sport and recreation. Her involvement in all projects from conception to delivery assists quality management and continuity of the design concept into the final built product. Amanda has expertise and a passion for contemporary workplace design to inform the environments and fit outs which bring projects to life.