The National Museum of Australia’s exhibition Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters has been declared the best of all exhibitions at a museum of gallery in Australia in the past year.
The award was presented at the annual Museums and Galleries National Awards (MAGNA) held in in Melbourne this week.
The Songlines exhibition features the ancient Seven Sisters Indigenous creation saga and includes stunning paintings, objects and interactive multimedia led and co-created by Indigenous communities.
Director of the National Museum, Mathew Trinca said the award was a tribute to the work of the APY (Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara), Ngaanyatjarra and Martu people who led the project and worked with the National Museum to share and preserve the foundation stories of our ancient continent.
“These communities opened their hearts and minds to share their Seven Sisters narratives with the world,” Dr Trinca said.
“The exhibition tells a story that resonates globally and places Indigenous story-telling at the centre of the national imagination.”
Songlines senior curator, Margo Neale said the exhibition set a new benchmark for Indigenous story-telling in museums.
“This exhibition was initiated and co-curated by Indigenous communities who wanted to both preserve their culture for future generations and to share their stories with all Australians and the world,” Ms Neale said.
Songlines ran at the National Museum from 14 September 2017 to 28 February 2018.
