Mapping Popular Music Exhibitions in Australia

Abstract

The Australian Music Vault, situated in the Arts Centre Melbourne, opened in December 2017. Prior to the creation of the Vault, a survey had listed some eight exhibitions featuring Australian popular music or musicians in major Australian cultural institutions (Waller and Waller 2016). A wider survey would have revealed more at minor institutions throughout the nation. The “heritagisation” of popular music is part of a global interest in remembering popular music’s past as cultural heritage, an interest which has been paralleled by academic attention. This paper will outline preliminary considerations for a project seeking to trace the narrative of Australian popular music history within exhibitions in Australian cultural institutions. I’ll begin with an overview, then focus on the Australian Music Vault, outline some initial considerations, and then make some concluding remarks.