Melbourne To Host Pharoh Tutankhamun Exhibition
Minister for the Arts Peter Batchelor today announced that Melbourne had seen off a number of international competitors to secure the exclusive Australian hosting rights for the most significant exhibition in the world today, Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs.
Mr Batchelor said the breathtaking collection of 130 ancient Egyptian artefacts from the tomb of Tutankhamun and other Valley of the Kings tombs was an outstanding cultural coup for Victoria, and is arguably the biggest prize in the global exhibition market.
“I am delighted to announce that Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs is coming to Victoria as one of our incredibly successful Melbourne Winter Masterpieces,” he said.
“Since it opened in Los Angeles in 2005, over seven million people have flocked to experience the wonders of Ancient Egypt and learn more about the extraordinary legend of the boy king.
“Next April Australians will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see first-hand some of the world’s most precious treasures here, at the Melbourne Museum.
“In just six years, the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series has embedded itself in the cultural life of our city, attracting over 2.4 million visitors and injecting over $138 million into our economy.
“Have no doubt, securing this tremendous exhibition is a stunning result for Melbourne.
“The Victorian Major Events Company and IMG have been working closely with Arts and Exhibitions International, Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities and Museum Victoria for over a year to bring Tutankhamun to Melbourne.”
Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs will arrive in Melbourne in April next year from New York City, after a record-breaking world tour that also included London, Philadelphia and Chicago.
“Hosting Tutankhamun highlights Melbourne Museum’s place as Australia’s leading museum,”
Mr Batchelor said.
“Last year more than 332,000 people experienced A Day in Pompeii at Melbourne Museum – the highest attendance for any Australian museum exhibition at that time.
“Another exhibition at Melbourne Museum, Titanic: the Artefact Exhibition, has also set new attendance records and I have no doubt Tutankhamun will also attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from across Australia and the region.”
The Secretary General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass, said people of all ages had an enduring fascination with Tutankhamun.
“This exhibition gives a whole new generation the chance to experience the wonders of ancient Egypt,” he said.
“I encourage people from all across Australia to come to Melbourne to discover the magic and mystery of the boy king.”
Archaeologist and CEO of Museum Victoria Dr Patrick Greene welcomed the announcement and spoke of the outstanding quality of the collection.
“Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs transports us to ancient Egypt through the power of the more than 130 stunning objects found in his tomb and also the tombs of his close relatives,” he said.
“I am very proud that Melbourne Museum is able to follow the outstanding success of both A Day in Pompeii and Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition with this extraordinary exhibition of treasures from the Cairo Museum.”
IMG are partnering with Museum Victoria to bring this exhibition to Victoria.
Stephen Flint Wood, Managing Director IMG Arts and Entertainment said: “It is a great privilege to be able to bring an exhibition that holds such historical significance throughout the world to Australia for the very first time.
“We would like to thank the Victorian Government, through the Victorian Major Events Company, Museum Victoria, Arts Victoria and Tourism Victoria, for making this possible.”
Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs will open at Melbourne Museum on 8 April, 2011.
Ticket registrations are now open at www.kingtutmelbourne.com.au
In 2011, Melbourne Winter Masterpieces will also present Vienna, Art and Design: Klimt, Schiele, Hoffmann at the National Gallery of Victoria.
Topics: A Day in Pompeii, Art and Design: Klimt, Australian hosting rights, boy king, business, Cairo Museum, Chicago, culture, economic development, economic growth, Economy, Egypt, exhibition, Golden Age of the Pharaohs, Governance, government, Hoffmann, investment, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Melbourne Museum, Melbourne Winter Masterpieces, moniter, monitor, National Gallery of Victoria, New York City, news, Peter Batchelor, Pharaohs, Philadelphia, pyramids, Schiele, Titanic: the Artefact Exhibition, tourism, Tutankhamun, U.S., United States, Vienna, visitors
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