The National Museum of Australia will showcase a selection of objects chosen by ABC personality Tony Armstrong for his new five-part series Tony Armstrong’s Extra-Ordinary Things, which will be broadcast from next month on ABC TV and ABC iview.
The project is a collaboration between ABC TV, Fremantle Australia, Screen Australia and the National Museum which culminates in the curation, production and broadcast of a nationally televised series and an exhibition in Canberra later this year.
National Museum director Katherine McMahon said, “We are delighted to be involved in this fantastic project to explore the untold history of Australia and uncover the objects Australians cherish.
“Three of the Museum’s curators, Dr Sophie Jensen, Dr Martha Sear and Craig Middleton, showed Tony, our guest curator, the ropes as he embarked on his first exhibition, helping him on his journey around Australia searching for the ordinary things which tell extraordinary Australian stories.
“We look forward to inviting visitors to experience the objects in person,” Ms McMahon said.
Acting Assistant Director, Discovery and Collections, Dr Sophie Jensen, said, “It’s been a joy to work on this program and we look forward to giving Museum visitors a chance to see objects featured on screen in 25 stories, in real life.
“Tony’s dream to bring all the stories together gives Australians a chance to reflect on why ‘things’ matter so much to us,” Dr Jensen said.
Tony Armstrong’s Extra-Ordinary Things series will be broadcast on ABC TV and ABC iview from 21 May 2024.
The National Museum of Australia’s exhibition will open 21 June 2024.
