I have some experience performing on stage and assisting backstage, but I have never had the opportunity to see how costumes are designed or how past art collections are managed and preserved. During the tour, the guide explained that the collections are categorized into five domains: circus, dance, music, theatre, and opera. Initially, I didn't know what to expect on the tour. I was hoping to see some costumes and get a glimpse behind the scenes. In reality, it felt like looking at someone's personal collection of items. When I was a child, I used to collect stamps by carefully soaking envelopes, waiting for the glue to dissolve, and peeling off the slimy stamp. I would then allow it to dry on a piece of kitchen towel, opening the window slightly to aid in drying without blowing the stamps away. Once dried, the stamp would harden like paper mache before being placed in my collection book.
Well, the art centre conducted these preservation efforts on a much larger scale, utilizing sophisticated scientific techniques to conserve their collection. Scientists are employed to work in the Collection Store, which resembles a science lab and archive. One technique they discussed involves reactivating glue on historical fabrics to separate and restore layers. Additionally, they mentioned that some collections are light-sensitive due to their fragile nature. Upon arrival at the Collection Store, items undergo a quarantine period to prevent cross-contamination, similar to practices during COVID. Occasionally, items are placed in the freezer to eliminate bugs and germs. The level of dedication to preservation and restoration exceeded my expectations.
We explored various collections from musicals, operas, circuses, and ballets during the tour. I found the stage design and ballet collection to be the most fascinating. The intricacies in the stage set design boxes were captivating. I wanted to linger with the other people on the tour moving to the next section, I could have admired them all day. It brought back memories of a short summer course I took as a child, where I had the opportunity to design a scene in a set model box over a week, focusing on a scene. From memory, I picked the Nutcracker. When we viewed the ballet collection, the tour guide shared interesting facts about each item, such as Rudolf Nureyev playing this guitar displayed on the shelf, Anna Pavlova used this particular tambourine and wore this specific headdress, Margot Fonteyn danced in this dress, and Graeme Murphy used this luggage when touring. I find myself imagining these dancers and choreographers using these items.
The tour lasted an hour and fifteen minutes. It was not possible to see all 850,000 items. Some of the items are displayed online, so if you cannot take the tour, you can view photos and descriptions on the Australian Performing Arts Collection website and book a tour here at the Arts Centre website.