The spirit of the world's great southern deserts comes to Canberra this Sunday when the National Museum of Australia throws open the doors of its Extremes exhibition for a day of free family fun.
A packed program of international performance, children's craft, talks, demonstrations and animal activities complement the exhibition, which looks at survival in the great deserts of the Southern Hemisphere.
'Visitors have been captivated by the people and the animals whose home is the deserts of Australia, Chile, Argentina and southern Africa,' said National Museum director Craddock Morton. 'Here's a chance for Canberrans to get up close to camels, snakes, llamas and lizards, to learn desert survival skills and experience the food and culture of our nearest desert neighbours.'
WHAT: A Day in the Extremes family fun day
WHEN: 11am-4pm, Sunday, 27 February 2005
WHERE: National Museum Hall and Amphitheatre
The program includes:
- Animal activities: Camel rides, reptile handling, llama hugging and photos, llama wool spinning and weaving, roving giant redback spider and emu stilt walkers.
- Dr Steve Morton from CSIRO's Environment and Natural Resources division speaking about survival in arid conditions.
- Performance: Music from Tribal Rhythms (Africa) and Tumi de los Andes (South America); scenes from the Street Theatre's coming production on desert landscape artist Georgia O'Keeffe; desert magic with Tricky Nick.
- Children's craft workshops and treasure hunt.
- Aboriginal stone tool making demonstrations with Larry Brandy, children's storytelling with Phillip Brown.
A Day in the Extremes activities are free. Entry to the exhibition, Extremes: Survival in the Great Deserts of the Southern Hemisphere, is also free on the day.
For interviews, images or more information please contact Leanda Coleman on
02 6208 5338, 0438 620 710 or l.coleman@nma.gov.au