IMTAL Asia-Pacific

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Join Now

To join you must become a member of Museums Australia (our governing body) and then select IMTALAP in the list of network groups.

You can become an Associate member without joining Museums Australia. This is usually offered to theatre practitioners  who do not normally work fulltime in cultural institutions.

If you have any questions contact Patrick info@imtalasiapacific.org

Coming Up

IMTALAP host at least one national or international event every year.

From one day forums in regional and metropolitan areas to week long international conferences – there’s always something coming up.

Stay in touch by revisiting our Facebook Page.

Museum theatre is the tool for interpreting, entertaining and educating audiences in cultural institutions. An alliance exists for practitioners to share their ideas, experiences, as well as source advice and inspiration.

The international body is called International Museum Theatre Alliance (IMTAL). International Museum Theatre Alliance Asia Pacific aims to represent and offer services to all of its members and also to partner members in IMTAL Americas and IMTAL Europe.

IMTAL Asia Pacific is:

Bullet the formal conduit for all museum theatre practitioners
Bullet the overseeing organising team for forums and conferences
Bullet the host for events with workshops, master classes and special guests
Bullet an advocate for performance in cultural organisations
Bullet a promoter of academic rigor in the area of museum theatre

IMTAL Asia Pacific has a network of around 200 people in Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Japan, China, and Singapore. Members are invited to join from around the world.

IMTAL Asia Pacific has hosted bi-annual national forums, annual professional development programs and has hosted the International Museum Theatre Alliance conference in Canberra and in Melbourne. IMTAL Asia Pacific provides bursaries and financial support to conference keynote speakers and conference delegates.

International Museum Theatre Alliance (Asia Pacific) Committee
President : Jo Clyne - History Teachers' Association of Victoria (VIC)
Vice President : Patrick Helean - Questacon (ACT)
Secretary : Patrick Watt – Museum Consultant (VIC)
Treasurer : Patrick Watt – Museum Consultant (VIC)
Immediate Past President : Michael Van Tiel DFES Education & Heritage (WA)
Ordinary Committee Members : Barry Kay - Sovereign Hill (VIC), Jo Brookbanks - Auckland Museum (NZ), Lyn Beasley - Museum Education Consultant (ACT), Peter Wilkins - Come Alive Festival of Museum Theatre (ACT), Michael Mills - Heaps Good Productions (SA)

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IMTALAP Timeline

1990

The International Museum Theatre Alliance is founded by practitioner Catherine Hughes in Boston, USA.

1999

IMTAL Europe is founded.

2001

Dana Harvey from the National Museum of Australia attends the second International Museum Theatre Alliance conference in London, UK

2002

'Raising the Curtain: Performance in Cultural Institutions', Canberra (1st National Forum)

The National Museum of Australia becomes a member of the International Museum Theatre Alliance

2003

'Spotlight on Performance' 2nd National Forum for Performance in Cultural Institutions, Canberra

2005

'Extending Our Reach', The Fourth Biennial IMTAL Conference, Canberra

2007

'Many Players Many Parts', 3rd National Forum for Performance in Cultural Institutions, Melbourne

2008

'Raising Our Voices", 4th National Forum for Performance in Cultural Institutions, Melbourne

IMTALAP, the Asia Pacific branch of the International Museum Theatre Alliance is founded. It was initially known as IMTAP (International Museum Theatre Asia Pacific) before being rebranded as IMTALAP.

2010

'More than an Add-On', 5th National Forum for Performance in Cultural Institutions, Sydney

IMTALAP formalised as a Network of Museums Australia

The Come Alive Museum Theatre Festival, Canberra is founded.

2011

The IMTAL 7th Biennial International Conference 'Museum Theatre: Access All Areas' is held in Melbourne, Australia

2nd Annual Come Alive Museum Theatre Festival, Canberra.

2012

3rd Annual Come Alive Museum Theatre Festival, Canberra.

2013

IMTALAP coordinates a workshop entitled 'Devising and performing museum theatre for the Come Alive Schools Festival of Museum Theatre' at the Museums Australia National Conference, Canberra.

Keeping It Real (a regional gallery and museum practitioner seminar). Coordinated in partnership with the Albury City Council.

4th Annual Come Alive Museum Theatre Festival, Canberra.

2014

5th Annual Come Alive Museum Theatre Festival, Canberra.

2015

6th Annual Come Alive Museum Theatre Festival, Canberra. Presented in conjunction with a forum focusing on youth in museums, both as visitors and as performers.

2016

7th Annual Come Alive Museum Theatre Festival, Canberra.

2017

8th Annual Come Alive Museum Theatre Festival, Canberra.

2018

IMTALAP presents the 'Making Australian History Theatrical' Symposium in Melbourne, Australia

9th Annual Come Alive Museum Theatre Festival, Canberra.

2019

10th Annual Come Alive Museum Theatre Festival, Canberra.

2020

The IMTALAP committee presents a session on the impact of Covid-19 on museum theatre in Australia at the IMTAL virtual conference (held online due to Covid-19)

11th Annual Come Alive Museum Theatre Festival, Canberra.

2021

IMTALAP presents a online professional development session 'Scriptwriting for Museums' facilitated by the Australian Museums and Galleries Association.

12th Annual Come Alive Museum Theatre Festival, Canberra.

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