Audio on demand

Poppy Wenham looks at some of the issues in adapting museum practice to the challenges of born-digital collection material and asks what we need to do to work effectively with virtual collections.

Eric Archer reflects on the achievements in the conservation professions and the incorporation of conservators into mainstream collections management structures. He also raises the issue of how to open up objects in non-displayed collections.

Roslyn Russell examines the development of the Significance publication and suggests that the preservation of an object’s function in the conservation process is important where the function is an integral part of the object’s significance.

Maryanne McCubbin discusses the development of three strands of collection workers over the past 30 years: curators, collection managers and conservators.

Listen to part of Elena Kats-Chernin’s 2009 composition Garden of Dreams, inspired by the convict love tokens held in the Museum’s collection, performed in the Australian Journeys gallery.

Listen to part of Elena Kats-Chernin’s 2009 composition Garden of Dreams, inspired by the Kimberley points display, performed in the First Australians gallery.

Curator Jennifer Wilson tells us how Australia’s first purpose-built home for the Commonwealth Parliament was opened with suitable pomp and ceremony in Canberra on 9 May 1927.

Matthew Flinders sailed through the Recherche Archipelago in 1802 and 1803 on board the Investigator. Curator Pip McNaught shares her work developing a Landmarks’ exhibit and talks about Matthew Flinders and his cat, Trim.

Dr Jenny Newell hosts a public screening of Franny Armstrong’s drama documentary about climate change, The Age of Stupid. This audio consists of her introductions and the ensuing discussion led by a climate change scientist and a science communicator.

What can objects tell us about the past? Kirsten Wehner talks to history teachers about the nature of exhibitions as histories.