DIRECTOR’S REPORT
What a year this has been and what reasons to celebrate! With significant increases in the number of exhibitions and activities, improved visitor numbers, new caterers, a revised Heritage Management Plan and new Collection Development Plan, major building works, installation of a wireless network, social media engagement, online oral history collection, organisational change, major festivals and events, theatre and debates in the Chambers, data gathering, improved procurement processes and an unmodified audit opinion, it is fair to say that the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House is in the process of transformative change.
A dynamic national icon
In July 2013 we launched our new strategic plan to position the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House as a dynamic, contemporary space that celebrates the spirit of Australia’s democracy, and the power of your voice within it.
In one of the nation’s most loved and recognised buildings, we are creating a new kind of town square, a place where we can have bold conversations, support empowered and engaged communities, provide an authentic and welcoming meeting space, and enable staff to be courageous, democratic, nimble and efficient.
The new strategic plan focuses on diverse audiences, compelling stories and public space. Our strategy is based on four key pillars:
- to create bold agenda-setting content, known for its excellence and integrity
- to be relevant, inspiring a dramatic engagement with diverse audiences
- to have an authentic connection to the building, in harmony with its heritage values
- to be a dynamic organisation: contemporary, relevant and sustainable.
Engaged and informed
Visitors are at the heart of what we do. Our exhibitions and activities celebrate, debate and explore stories—of the building and those who worked here, of the decisions that shaped Australia, of the visionaries who fought for change, and of Australia’s influence on world democracy.
In a country made up of hundreds of nationalities, the Museum of Australian Democracy provides a space not just to celebrate our democratic tradition, but also to truly collaborate with our audiences and stakeholders—through exhibitions, talks, festivals, celebrations, artists, memorials and more.
A continuum of experiences
It is fitting that we began our new strategic plan with a festival for the 2013 federal election. We focused on creating a program with multiple and diverse points for engagement and connection. So whether your interest was theatre, politics, history, comedy or debate, there was something for you. On election day more than 6,000 people from around Australia cast their votes in King’s Hall.
We have extended this approach to all that we do, providing a continuum of experiences from online access to guided tours and everything in between. We have introduced quick-response, pop-up exhibitions and provocative temporary exhibitions, and re-energised building use through themed activities, often centred on music and food. Our digital offerings have focused on social media and audience engagement, leading to a
five-fold increase in connectedness.
Our schools programs are operating at capacity, and continue to receive exceptional satisfaction ratings from students and teachers alike. The National Indigenous Youth Parliament provided a transformational leadership experience for high-potential young Indigenous leaders. The museum’s Zine Lounge is also giving a voice to the
hard-to-access young adult market.
Heritage
Old Parliament House was—and continues to be—a landmark in the Parliamentary Triangle and in Canberra. It is firmly embedded in the zeitgeist of the country—as a symbolic, physical representation of democracy and our political processes.
Built in 1927 as our first Parliament House in Canberra, the building has adapted to the needs of those within it. There were major additions in the 1940s and 1970s to accommodate the growing numbers of parliamentarians. In 1988 it ceased as the home of the federal parliament when New Parliament House opened. In 2009, it was relaunched as the Museum of Australian Democracy.
Developing a thriving public space in harmony with heritage values is central to our strategic plan, and is underpinned by our updated Heritage Management Plan and the new Collection Development Plan.
Finance
A hallmark of the year was excellent financial management in increasingly difficult conditions. Budgets remain static, against a backdrop of efficiency dividends and increasing fixed costs. A key priority was identifying opportunities for internal savings. This included refined stocktake processes, strategic profiling and aligning risk tolerance with our activities. A priority for the latter part of the year was preparing for shared corporate services across the national arts and cultural agencies.
Challenges and opportunities
There are many challenges ahead for the museum in forging new ground in a complex and changing environment. The first is to continue to find new ways to tell the stories of democracy, including creating new permanent exhibitions.
We have begun work on developing our collection, strategically and with a clear understanding of our niche and purpose. We have the ongoing task of providing wide access to a heritage site and collection, while maintaining its values. We have to continually investigate and inquire into the expectations of our audiences.
We also have the opportunities of forging new partnerships and collaborations, such as the relationship with SBS and University of Canberra for the Power of One exhibition later in 2014, which marks the anniversary of 18-year-olds being able to vote and investigates how to engage young people in the formal democratic process.
We are extending our focus on prime ministers, with a fresh five-year strategy for the Australian Prime Ministers Centre. The new strategy emphasises research, scholarship and public engagement in the stories of those who have led the nation, their motivations and reflections, and the impact they have had on our political, social and economic life.
At this stage, unlike other national collecting institutions, the museum has limited capacity to retain earned income, which we are seeking to address. The life cycle plan for the Old Parliament House building is also underfunded, creating a future need for additional funding sources. To effectively engage with the story of democracy, additional funding opportunities need to be harnessed.
Acknowledgements
I am immensely proud of our achievements this year, and want to acknowledge the contributions and support of all the following:
- our valued and strategic partners, who work with us to increase the reach and impact of the museum, including the Australian Electoral Commission and YMCA for the National Indigenous Youth Parliament; Craft ACT on Beyond the Veneer; the Australian Human Rights Commission on Insurgence; the Canberra Zine Emporium; Griffith University and the Australian National University on the Australian Prime Ministers Centre annual seminar; and our colleagues in the national Network of Prime Ministerial Research and Collecting Agencies: the National Archives of Australia, the National Library of Australia, the National Film and Sound Archive, the Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library, the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Library, the Chifley Home, the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library, the Curtin Family Home, Home Hill (Lyons Home), the University of Melbourne Archives (Malcolm Fraser Collection) and the Whitlam Institute
- the leadership team, incredible staff, and volunteers who bring their knowledge, skills and commitment to their work, to delivering a great experience for our audiences, and to supporting our strategic change of direction
- the Old Parliament House Advisory Council,
which supports our work through counsel and connections. This year we welcomed a new chair,
the Hon Dr David Kemp, and three new members:
the Hon Graham Edwards AM, Sir David Smith KCVO, AO and Mrs Heather Henderson. We also farewelled with thanks two outgoing members: Ms Natasha Stott Despoja AM and Ms Sue Mackay - the previous government under the Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport portfolio and the minister responsible, the Hon Tony Burke MP. Following the federal election, the museum moved to the Attorney-General’s portfolio
- Senator the Hon George Brandis QC, Attorney-General and Minister for the Arts, and the executives
and officers of the Ministry for the Arts in the
Attorney-General’s Department.
Daryl Karp
Director