Sound in the Spotlight

The National Film & Sound Archive of Australia collects preserves and provides access to Australia’s audio-visual heritage across all media. This paper explores techniques used by the NFSA to showcase the NFSA’s audio collections online, on site and on tour. These include the “Fractured Heart” interactive exhibit featuring music by Gotye; the “Art of Sound” touring partnership with Australian regional art galleries; the “Vinyl Lounge” events presented in the NFSA’s recently redeveloped Theatrette, and the “New Voices / Old Technology” project in which contemporary recording artists work with vintage recording equipment from the NFSA’s collection. The paper considers the technical, curatorial and management dimensions of these projects; as well as audience responses and lessons learned. The paper is illustrated with audio-visual material produced by the NFSA as documentation of these projects.