M&G QLD Chairperson, Karina Devine with Carol Davidson, Queensland Museum Network – Joint Winner of Engagement: Organisations with Paid Staff category. Photo: Patria Jannides Photography, courtesy of M&G QLD.

Engagement

Organisations with Paid Staff

Joint Winner

World Science Festival 2017
World Science Festival 2017 – Street Science 2. Courtesy of Queensland Museum Network.

Queensland Museum Network
World Science Festival Brisbane 2017

The Queensland Museum Network holds the exclusive license to host the World Science Festival in the Asia Pacific from 2016 to 2021. It is the only global extension of this popular initiative, reinforcing Australia’s position as a knowledge economy and igniting new and challenging discussions in and about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). 

Attracting over 180,000 attendances in 2017, the program featured a stellar line-up of international physicists, marine biologists and environmental scientists for five days of thought-provoking discussions, interactive workshops and theatrical performances.

The Queensland Museum Network extended the 2017 Festival’s regional program to include Gladstone, Toowoomba, Townsville and Chinchilla. In total, the 2017 Festival delivered 128 performances across 21 venues including 49 world premieres and 49 full houses.

The Festival’s Education Program deepened engagement with the Museum’s existing schools audience. The specially curated Lifelong Learning Program saw more than 2,900 students and teachers interact with, and hear directly from, pioneers, leaders and subject-matter experts in traditional and non-traditional STEM fields. 

With Academic Partners (Griffith University, QUT and The University of Queensland) and Program Partners (QIMR Berghofer and TRI) the Festival delivered 12 Apprentice Programs. Designed for senior students, these immersive workshops in the fields of genetics, microbiology, bioengineering, robotics, palaeontology, quantum physics, environmental science and cancer biology gave students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the wonder of STEM by working in laboratories alongside subject-matter experts. 

Cool Jobs brought students from Years 4–10 face-to-face with scientists to learn what it takes to do some of the coolest scientific jobs on earth!

Finalists

Medieval Skirmish
Medieval Skirmish. Courtesy of Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology.

Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, Caboolture
Medieval Family Fun Week

Medieval Family Fun Week is child focused and is designed to engage, educate and inspire young people while they have fun participating in medieval arts, crafts, archaeology and activities. It is an important adjunct to the highly-popular Abbey Medieval Festival, attracting a wider audience and providing experiences that cannot be catered for during the festival weekend.

The Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology is situated in Caboolture, an hour north of Brisbane. It has one of the finest collections of European and Classical artefacts open to the public in Australia. The Museum’s collection includes prehistoric artefacts, ceramics, glass, stained glass, metalwork, woodwork, lacquer, sculptures, manuscripts and rare books, Renaissance and Baroque paintings, watercolours, icons and frescos. The collection covers over 500,000 years of world history and endeavours to educate and inspire through its displays and public programs. 

The annual Abbey Medieval Festival brings to life the colour, pageantry and excitement of Medieval Europe. Medieval re-enactors, musicians and street performers from across Australia and overseas join in a vibrant display of life in the Middle Ages.

Miss Fisher’s Lawn Party
Miss Fisher’s Lawn Party. Photo: Anthony Weate, courtesy of Old Government House, QUT.

Old Government House, QUT, Brisbane
To promote, excite and entice: the Miss Fisher public programs at Old Government House

Old Government House is located on the Gardens Point campus of QUT in Brisbane. In 2016, Old Government House partnered with the National Trust of Queensland to activate the internal spaces of the House in a new and entertaining way by presenting the Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries Costume Exhibition. 

Through this wondrous exhibition, the public was invited to enter the opulent 1920s world of the Honourable Miss Phryne Fisher and her crime fighting associates. Miss Fisher’s character and charm were epitomised by the stunning costumes and props of the award-winning costume designer, Marion Boyce.

To complement the Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries Costume Exhibition, Old Government House introduced a range of engaging, themed public programs which held tremendous appeal for the broader community and Miss Fisher enthusiasts. These programs included sixteen special events: Miss Fisher’s Lawn Party, a 1920s themed family event with swing dance classes, live jazz music, and pop-up beauty salon; an Evening with costume designer Marion Boyce; a ‘Behind the Seams’ tour of the exhibition; fashion and styling workshops including a Lindy Charm School for Girls; speakeasy pop-up bars with the option to come dressed in 1920s costume; as well as specialist talks and panel discussions with Brisbane art deco and crime authors.

Indigenous Culture Learning Program at Museum of Brisbane
Indigenous Culture Learning Program. Courtesy of Museum of Brisbane.

Museum of Brisbane
Indigenous Culture Learning Program

The Indigenous Culture Learning Program, launched last year at Museum of Brisbane in collaboration with Aboriginal leader Shannon Ruska, aims to increase awareness of Indigenous histories and heritage, ensuring future generations recognise both the value of Indigenous cultures and the importance of supporting them to thrive. 

This program focuses on the key concepts of Country/Place, Culture and People and allows students to experience Indigenous culture from a wide range of perspectives: through artworks and artefacts in the Museum’s exhibitions; storytelling from Elders and activists in a short film on Country; and then first-hand in the dynamic dance, storytelling and conversational presentation from the Nunukul Yuggera Aboriginal Dance Troupe.

Learning about local Indigenous histories through exhibition content is important, but the unique experience of being able to ask questions directly to a person of Indigenous heritage creates a meaningful and lasting connection and develops confidence in seeking on-going self-guided learning opportunities for both students, teachers and the general public. It instils in future generations a respect for and deeper understanding of the rich Aboriginal history of Brisbane. 

Review Site
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