Summer at Sea Museum

The Museum

Australia’s museum of the sea, the Australian National Maritime Museum, is proud to announce its most diverse program ever this summer.

‘We are proud to be a part of the Sydney Festival in 2021 and so pleased to have such a variety to offer to the public after what has been a trying year,’ said museum CEO and Director Kevin Sumption.

‘This summer we are presenting a program with activities and experiences throughout the day which enables us to effectively manage the crowds. Regardless of age there is something here for everyone.’

The new summer exhibition program showcases extraordinary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art (Defying Empire: 3rd National Indigenous Triennial from the National Gallery of Australia and Alick Tipoti’s Miraw Minaral), Sydney’s working harbour and fashion found objects on beaches (Beach Couture by Marina DeBris).

New stories of people who have travelled across the seas to make Australia home are also a highlight. This includes the immersive A Mile in My Shoes experience with the UK’s Empathy Museum and Settlement Services International’s Motherland- Exile/Refuge – Migration (repeat) exhibition.

More than a museum, visitors have the opportunity to unleash creativity in a world where imagination meets the sea with exhibitions, creative workshops, performances, tours, trails, our historic fleet and more.

Experience the underwater world of Badu through Erth’s amazing puppetry, the very best of nature photography with Wildlife Photographer of the Year and bring the whole family to celebrate migrant stories with a multicultural festival on January 10 called Sunday Stir.

There’s boatloads of fun to be had every day including art making, scientific experiments in Kids on Deck, exploring the harbour’s smallest inhabitants at the Ocean Lab, adventuring on a museum Treasure Trail, piloting an underwater drone and fun and creative workshops. At night, we will have projections depicting the migrant experience on the museum rooftop.

Details on the whole program can be found at www.sea.museum/summer

For Families

  • Badu by Erth
  • Sunday Stir – a celebration of multicultural Australia
  • Kids Holiday programs (ie Kids on Deck, Ocean lab, underwater drones)
  • Kids Creative Workshops
  • Ocean Heroes Activity Trail
  • Sensory Friendly Sundays

For Adults

  • Beach Couture – Fashion from waste by ‘beach artivist’ Marina De Bris
  • Defying Empire: 3rd National Indigenous Art Triennial
  • Motherland – Exile /Refuge- Migration – Investigating the refugee and migrant experience
  • Wildlife Photographer of the Year – witness unique moments of the diversity of life on Earth
  • A Mile in My Shoes – Celebrate the voices of migrants and refugees
  • Miraw Minaral (Spiritual Patterns) – the work of Torres Strait artist Alick Tipoti
  • Sydney Harbour Gallery – explore Sydney’s working harbour above and below the waterline
  • Under Southern Skies – celestial navigation through the ages

/Public Release.