Inside the Archive Part I

Rupert Bunnys Melba, back from loan.

For those who have never seen inside a museum storage area, here's a sneak peak of Collections 101.  In the majority of museums only a small percentage of the collection is every on display.  Most of the time items are resting, out of light, out of sight; sleeping yet ready to awaken to the exhibition space.  The Collection Manager's job and the team, is to keep all the collection objects, no matter how big or small, in stasis so that it might be seen as it is now, in hundreds of years to come.

Collection Managers also handle loans, transportation, catalogue databases, digital imaging, pest control, exhibition set up and installation and all manner of other stuff that might vary from museum to museum but at the heart of the job is the care of the collection.

At the Performing Arts Collection the policy covers Australian Drama, Music, Circus... see previous post if you need to play a bit of catch up.  Ranging from opera to pop, gowns to goldfields this is an amazing collection in its own right.   

Nick Cave Collection at rest.

Because of the nature of the performing arts, the items reflect a very diverse social and technological history from across the country and internationally.  Personalities, celebrities, companies, buildings, events, modern and historic times, the city and country are reflected in objects, photos, archives, costumes, business records, designs, textiles and personal items.

Can you see the colours of the costumes and puppets, the age of the documents?  The scribble on the scripts in my photos?

Well no, because this is the store where everything gently lies cloaked, about you. For the full lights and show, the glitz and glamour when the objects shine for you, you'll have to see the exhibitions.  In the photos you'll see examples or our old boxes (left) and the new archive quality ones which have slowly been replacing the old.

Basically the nitty gritty of cataluging and researching is the type of work that times time, detial and care.  The pace is what I call "the slow burn". Or as my colleague puts it .. "museum time".

Like any research and scientific discovery it's about a team investing for decades and ultimately centuries to  keep and sustain our collective memory.

In the hurly burly of twenty first century life, its very refreshing.

So we'll finish at my workbench -  looking a bit too tidy.  Must have been after I packed up. Basically all I need is a bench, a computer and access to the compactus.  Heaven. Next time I might catch a few staff lingering around researching and working away to liven the place up a bit. Next time? The Donovan Joyce Radio Production Company Archive.  The size of the collection is reflects the length of the title. Welcome to the slow burn.