2022 program highlights

What’s on in 2022

Highlights of the year ahead

Throughout 2022 we will celebrate the museum’s 30th anniversary. This preview of our upcoming program highlights the many areas that we focus on – our maritime and migration heritage, Indigenous knowledge and cultures, our physical environment and the health of our oceans and waterways.

EVERYONE AT THE MUSEUM IS EXCITED to be open again after lockdown and we look forward to seeing you very soon. We hope you enjoy the following exhibitions, talks, cruises and family programs throughout 2022, in addition to those listed on pages 58–65.

Ocean Decade

The museum is proud to be part of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, a 10-year global program that aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.

2021–2030 sea.museum/ocean-decade

Wildlife Photographer of the Year This world-renowned exhibition, on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, features exceptional images which capture fascinating animal behaviour, spectacular land and seascapes and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world. April 2022–March 2023

Our upcoming program demonstrates the museum’s wide-ranging scope

Sea of Light by Patch Theatre is an interactive installation for the whole family. ANMM image

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Shaped by the Sea In this new permanent exhibition, hundreds of objects from the museum’s collection will be on display, some of them for the first time. These include several significant and iconic pieces, such as Alick Tipoti’s bronze sculpture Kisay Dhangal. The centrepiece of the exhibition is a commissioned work by the Mulka Art Project. This stunning contemporary video installation called Dhaŋaŋ Dhukarr (Many Pathways) brings together all the elements of the exhibition (land, water and sky) into an immersive, cyclic reflection on deep-time Australia. May 2022 sea.museum/shaped-by-the-sea

Diver Diver is an exciting new installation by Sydney-based artist Tim Kyle. Standing 4.5 metres high, the sculpture is a metaphor for anonymity and introspection. Until April 2022 sea.museum/diver

Endeavour voyaging The museum is currently making plans to sail the Endeavour replica. While living and sailing on board, crew members can imagine what life was like for James Cook and his crew 250 years ago. March and April 2022 sea.museum/endeavour-voyaging

Aquatic Imaginarium Step inside our indoor play and discovery space to encounter a wonderland of giant inflatables, evocative sensory installations, object storytelling and hands-on art-making activities. 9–24 April 2022 sea.museum/imaginarium

02 01 The forthcoming new permanent exhibition Shaped by the Sea is a reflection on deep-time Australia. ANMM image 02 Maritime archaeology is one of the many topics to be explored in our Beneath the Surface series of talks. Image taken on Boot Reef, Queensland, by Julia Sumerling/ Silentworld Foundation

New Beginnings Festival This one-day, family-friendly festival showcases the work of more than 70 culturally and linguistically diverse artists, makers and entrepreneurs. Performances take place on the main stage, which is surrounded by a workshop hub, chill-out zone, world food village and the world bazaar. 19 March 2022 sea.museum/new-beginnings

NAIDOC Week celebrations

Take a journey from the Blue Mud Bay flag to the dugong dancing on the tail of the moon, from virtual songlines to the Tribal Warrior pearling lugger as we celebrate the stories, culture, language and lore of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations across Australia.

3–10 July 2022 sea.museum/naidoc

The Great Ratsby Murder Mystery Sydney in the mid-1920s is a city ready to explode. Gangs, plague, police and the legend that is ‘The Great Ratsby’ come together on a steamy night of mystery and intrigue. At a ritzy party on board SY Ena, gangsters mix with the Sydney party set until a body is found floating in the harbour. Who did it?

October 2022 sea.museum/murder-mystery

Beneath the Surface

Beneath the Surface is our new monthly talk series hosted by the museum’s Knowledge team and their guests. The 2022 series presents a diverse range of discussions related to maritime history and stories of the sea. Join our expert curators as they dive into topics they’re most passionate about, such as maritime archaeology, migration, ocean science and Indigenous cultures. February–December 2022 sea.museum/beneath-the-surface