With most Canberra tourist attractions and galleries closing their doors to protect staff and visitors and to comply with physical distancing guidelines and government directions to limit non-essential gatherings, many are taking the opportunity to expand their online offerings and encourage virtual visits.
Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG) and the ACT Historic Places (Lanyon Homestead, Calthorpes’ House and Mugga-Mugga Cottage) closures affect: all exhibitions, learning and community programs, venue hire bookings, group tours, general visitation, the CMAG Café and Lanyon’s Barracks Espresso Bar and Eating House. The websites will include information about digital programs being developed and made accessible online in coming weeks.
Visit: cmag.com.au and historicplaces.com.au
Australian War Memorial will look to transition some programs to an online or digital delivery where possible. The AWM will go ahead with a private, nationally televised Anzac Day commemorative service on 25 April, to be broadcast live by the ABC and streamed online. The traditional Dawn Service, National Ceremony and veterans’ march will not take place.
Visit: awm.gov.au
MoAD (Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House) will continue to deliver a range of engaging museum experiences online, including downloadable educational resources. MoAD is finalising a range of new interactive digital programs that will begin to roll out in coming days.
Visit: moadoph.gov.au
National Film and Sound Archive will be adding new content to the website every fortnight and sharing content regularly via social media. There are collections for kids and animal lovers, sports and music fans, fashionistas, amateur historians, transport buffs, film buffs, and cinephiles, fans of classic TV and radio, anyone interested in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and more.
Visit: nfsa.gov.au
National Library of Australia building, including reading rooms, exhibition galleries, bookshop and cafés, is closed to visitors until further notice. NLA staff are working to ensure the Library’s popular digital services, such as Trove (trove.nla.gov.au), the catalogue, webinars and e-resources, remain accessible. Visit: nla.gov.au
National Museum of Australia has temporarily closed its doors to the public and all public programs including Virtual Reality and Kspace have been cancelled. The Museum’s cafe and onsite shop are also closed. The online shop [https://shop.nma.gov.au/] continues to operate. The scheduled April opening of the Museum’s upcoming exhibition, Endeavour Voyage: The Untold Stories of Cook and the First Australians, has been delayed. Stay tuned to the Museum’s website and social media channels for updates on the Endeavour exhibition and all Museum news. While the doors are closed, Museum staff are working behind the scenes to keep bringing great Australian stories to you online.
Visit: nma.gov.au/explore; shop.nma.gov.au
National Portrait Gallery Australia is closed until further notice and has postponed their international exhibition, Love Stories from the National Portrait Gallery in London, which was due to open on 20 June. However, you can still browse the Gallery’s collection and see (and vote for your favourite in) the National Photographic Portrait Prize and Darling Portrait Prize, and explore programs that are being developed to keep cabin fever at bay.
Visit: portrait.gov.au
Check the website of your favourite Canberra national attractions to explore their online offerings.
