From Jan 24 to Mar 14, the Australian Museum (AM) will be brought to life at night with CULTURE UP LATE a summer-long season of virtual reality shows, hands-on workshops, live music, special tours, performances and protest.

Over eight Wednesday nights, the nation’s first museum will be turned inside out in celebration of First Nations, Mardi Gras, science, art, the environment and love. CULTURE UP LATE will see a dozen artists, scientists and performers transform the AM for adults into an interactive space for the curious of heart and mind.

In the lead up to Australia Day, the first event will take place on Jan 24 and has been curated by First Nations staff. It’s called We Stand Strong (Ngalu Warrawi Marri in Gadigal language). The evening will celebrate First Nations protest and resilience, and interrogates the ways that Australia celebrates national identity. There will be deadly-designed jewellery workshops, a live DJ playing ‘decolonisation beats’, Change the Date VR rap video, and much more.

Anti-Valentine’s Day: an unconventional and uncommercial take on affairs of the heart, with live performances of love songs gone right and wrong, “speed hating” sessions, Voodoo doll workshops, couples’ game shows and the live dissection of a pig’s heart.

Turning the Tide: join scientists, activists and artists in exploring threats to the world’s oceans and marine life, and discover how to be part of the solution, through short films, live music and an immersive VR experience of coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef.

Another View presented as part of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, explore the AM with a queer eye through LGBTQI cabaret performances, live art and an irreverent “Mating in the Wild” tour of the animal exhibitions.

For more more information visit: Australian Museum CULTURE UP LATE .