Titanic- The Artefact Exhibition

by Jeni Bone on 25 Jun 2010 In a major coup for Victoria, Frontier Events, Premier Exhibitions Inc, Museum Victoria, with the support of the Victorian Government, are presenting Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition at Melbourne Museum until 17 October 2010.

'This is a true blockbuster exhibition which has been an outstanding success across the world, and we are delighted to be partnering with Michael Gudinski, Museum Victoria and Premier Exhibitions USA to bring Titanic exclusively to Melbourne,' said Sir Rod Eddington, Chairman of Victorian Major Events Company.

'Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition is an incomparable insight into the grandeur, romance and the tragedy of the Titanic and her passengers and crew. I’m honoured that this will be the first major exhibition project for Frontier Events and that we’re a part in bringing it to Australia for the very first time,' said Michael Gudinski, CEO of Frontier Events.
'We are proud to be presenting this remarkable exhibition that by displaying extraordinary objects removed from the sea bed, will bring visitors closer than ever before to the dramatic story of the Titanic,' said Dr J Patrick Greene, CEO, Museum Victoria.

On April 15, 1912, Titanic, the world’s largest ship, sank after colliding with an iceberg, claiming more than 1,500 lives and shaking the world’s confidence in the infallibility of modern technology. Almost 100 years later, Melbourne Museum will pay tribute to the tragedy in Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition, which showcases more than 280 artefacts retrieved from the Titanic’s debris field, offering visitors a poignant look at this legendary ship and its passengers and crew.

The exhibition has been created with a focus on Titanic’s compelling human stories, told through authentic artefacts and exacting re-creations of the ship’s interior. Delicate bottles of perfume, china bearing the logo of the elite White Star Line, even a piece of the hull of Titanic - these and many other objects collected from the wreck site offer poignant connections to lives abruptly ended or forever changed by one of the world’s greatest maritime disasters.

As they enter the exhibition, each visitor is presented with a replica boarding pass of an actual passenger, drawing them back in time to 1912 and the ship’s fateful maiden voyage. Then begins a journey through the life of Titanic, from construction to life on board, to its ill-fated voyage, tragic sinking and the amazing efforts to recover artefacts. Along the way visitors will marvel at the full-size recreation of the ship’s Grand Staircase, learn countless stories of heroism and humanity and even press their palms against an 'iceberg'.

The exhibition also tells Titanic’s Australian stories, and how its sinking strongly resonated with communities here. In the 'Memorial Gallery', guests will be able to take their boarding pass to the memorial wall and discover whether their passenger and travelling companions survived or perished.

'With more than 22 million visitors to date, we consistently see how Titanic resonates and touches everyone. Each of us can relate to someone on Titanic and the retelling of her story feeds our curiosity time and again,' states Cheryl Mure, Vice President of RMS Titanic, Inc. 'We have been anxious to present Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition in Australia for many years. Now through the exciting partnerships with Melbourne Museum and Frontier Events, we look forward to offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience this important piece of history.'

Over the past 19 years, this powerful exhibition has appeared in major museums worldwide - from Chicago to Los Angeles and Paris to London. RMS Titanic, Inc. is the only company permitted by law to recover objects from the wreck of the Titanic. The Company was granted Salvor-in-Possession rights to the wreck site of Titanic by a United States federal court in 1994 and has conducted seven research and recovery expeditions to Titanic rescuing more than 5,500 artefacts.

Tickets can be booked online at www.titanicmelbourne.com
Enquiries phone: 13 11 02 (9 am to 5 pm AEST, 7 days per week)