Family fun at Behind the Lines exhibition
With most of us still wondering ‘what the pup’ just happened, the brand new Behind the Lines: The year in political cartoons will help us make sense of the dog’s breakfast that was 2020.
Launched last month with Cathy Wilcox named Political Cartoonist of the Year, the exhibition includes 104 cartoons including digital works for the first time.
This year’s theme, 2020 A dog’s breakfast, takes a light-hearted look at the mess and chaos of 2020 with key events - the bushfires, the pandemic, political scandals and other issues - all explored through a dog-hued lens.
And while the grown-ups grin and grimace at the political cartoons, the family activities will delight young visitors.
There’s a brand new whoosh machine - put your ball in the dog bowl and see it travel through the tubes to land at a doggy destination. Follow the Family Trail, digging up clues to find your way around the exhibition or join cartoonist Cathy Wilcox as she takes you through a drawing activity. And don’t forget to nominate your favourite cartoon in the People’s Choice Award.
When have we needed our political cartoonists so much? Don’t miss it.
Open daily 9am - 5pm. Book your free pass
PlayUP
The always popular PlayUP continues over summer with hands-on activities to educate, excite and challenge young minds. Free sessions are available over the holidays.
Bookings essential. Check website for session dates and times.
‘So deadly…so proud’
Ngambri Ngunnawal woman and community leader Leah House shares her thoughts on representation and engaging with democracy as she recounts the Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony for Senator Lidia Thorpe at the Tent Embassy.
Read the Q&A in our blog here.
MoAD after hours
Book now for a brand new MoAD experience – part whodunit, part riddle room - and enjoy Old Parliament House after hours, while honing your knowledge of how parliament works.
Located in the House of Representatives Chamber, Peril in the Parliament - the Silent Speaker will flex your communication and teamwork skills among 20 of your new or existing best friends while you solve puzzles and earn clues. Feel free to don 1930s garb - or not, as you prefer.
Thursdays and Saturdays 6-7pm and group bookings by arrangement, from 17 December 2020.
For adults and children over 12. $29/$25 Bookings essential. What a great Christmas gift!
Stop and smell the roses
Our roses have been in bloom since late October and the gardeners say they will dazzle us for a few months yet. Enjoy them in the Senate and House of Representatives Rose Gardens, and in front of Old Parliament House.
There are 18 different types of roses – from the Nana Mouskouri to the Iced Ginger to the John F Kennedy – lovingly cared for by gardeners and volunteers.
From our friends
How did the space age capture the imagination of a nation and its people?
Free Out of This World exhibition on now at the National Archives of Australia.
Open daily 9.30am – 4.30pm.
Unique gifts from the shop
Indulge your pooch with dog treats and get into the spirit of Behind the Lines 2020’s theme with a dog in the kennel tea towel, a sticker series of drawings by Cathy Wilcox, or the excellent exhibition catalogue.
Minister for Chai tea, magnets, pencils, jewellery and soap are just some of the unique Canberra gifts on sale in our shop. Peruse the bookshelves, snap up a MoAD shopping bag, and for those of us with shop-shy partners, we now have an expanded lounge area.
All sales support the work of the museum, and some items are available online.
When visiting us, please follow the below guidelines to help us keep everyone healthy.
