The National Museum of Australia opened in 2001 and immediately attracted controversy on a number of fronts including: the postmodernist choice of architecture (in the shape of a rainbow serpent); the small size of the building; the choice of exhibition themes and their interpretation; the use of facsimile objects for display; the high tech presentation of exhibits; and the perceived privileging of indigenous culture over that of European settler culture.
The government’s stated intention in establishing the museum was:
That the museum would be an institution, combining the best contemporary techniques with new media technologies, in order to offer a range of experiences of wide appeal. There were to be permanent, changing and travelling exhibitions and blockbusters, and it was intended that audiences beyond Canberra would be reached using information and communication technologies.
The Museum was charged with celebrating ‘our journey as a nation’ in social history spaces. Prime Minister, John Howard, took particular interest in the NMA and its Council was stacked with members sympathetic to the government’s conservative outlook. Controversy continued, however, and in 2003, a review was announced into the exhibitions and public programs of the Museum. Specifically, the review, chaired by the widely respected sociologist, John Carroll, was to consider:
whether the Museum had complied with its prescribed role and functions;
whether the government’s vision had been realised; and
offer recommendations on future priorities.
In reality, the review was a politically-driven inquisition into the policy and operations of the Museum. One of the issues underpinning the review was the divide between those who advocated a chronologically, classificatory and authoritative view of Australian history and society versus those who advocated a ‘pluralist’ presentation of ‘imagined communities’, multiple histories and diverse points of view. A number of related themes emerged during the review, such as:
What is the role of a national museum?
How do contemporary museums differ from traditional ones?
How can museums relate to different kinds of visitors (one-off, frequent, children, Australians, international visitors, etc.)? and
How should objects be displayed and explained?
After a comprehensive review of the activities of the NMA and a vigorous public submission process, the committee concluded that the Museum would need to make some changes if it was to fulfil its potential as an authoritative cultural institution. It found that the NMA had met its founding criteria ‘to varying degrees’ however, the committee concluded that its ‘principal weakness is its story-telling’:
The NMA is short on compelling narratives, engagingly presented dramatic realisations of important events and themes in the Australian story. And there are too few focal objects, radiant and numerous enough to generate memorable vignettes, or to be drawn out into fundamental moments … Without engagement, there is little likelihood of inspiration, reflection or education.
Singled out for criticism was the Horizons Gallery that addressed post-European parts of the Australian story but failed to present ‘exemplary individual, group and institutional achievements’ central to understanding ‘the fundamental themes and narratives of Australia’. The review also found ‘difficulties with signage, exhibit lighting and acoustics — ones which are pervasive and serious’. Lack of coordination between research, collection policy and collaboration was also noted. The review identified a strengthening of the Museum’s story-telling capacity and the use of focal objects as the core of a desired long-term strategy while making a number of short-term recommendations including:
reconsidering the themes and narratives for the Horizons and Nation galleries;
addressing curatorial issues and exhibition modes;
redeveloping the introductory film, Circa to provide a ‘compelling introduction to the Museum, and a clear orientation to the permanent exhibitions’; and
conducting better research, collaborative and audience development activities.