Australian Museum’s record-breaking exhibition welcomes half a million visitors

Sydney: Friday 17 May 2024: Today, Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs has broken records at the Australian Museum (AM) selling more than 500,000 tickets, becoming the most visited exhibition in the Australian Museum’s history and one of the most popular cultural exhibitions ever hosted in New South Wales. The exhibition closes this weekend, on Sunday 19 May 2024.

Australian Museum Director and CEO, Kim McKay AO said the exhibition’s outstanding success demonstrates the community’s continued desire for authentic cultural experiences and connection.

“The Australian Museum has presented an exhibition that delivered thrilling storytelling alongside rare ancient artefacts evoking a sense of discovery and exploration. An exhibition of such scale and complexity transported our visitors to another time in Ancient Egypt and united them in a remarkable shared experience,” Kim McKay said.

“Throughout the exhibition’s six month run, we have welcomed visitors from across generations, regions and backgrounds, who have all visited the Australian Museum seeking a deeper understanding of the world around us. It has been one of the greatest privileges to see the spark of curiosity across the faces of the young and old who have all delighted in the story of the reign of Ramses II.”

The Hon John Graham, NSW Minister for the Arts, Jobs and Tourism, congratulated the Australian Museum on its extraordinary exhibition run. “What an incredible success, not only for the Australian Museum, but also our state. This exhibition has stimulated the local economy and demonstrates the importance of presenting cultural experiences of international calibre. I commend the museum for welcoming more than 500,000 plus people to see Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs as well as 1.2 million visitors to the AM already this year.”

Responding to demand, and at times welcoming more than 10,000 people a day, the Australian Museum extended exhibition hours, opening from 9am to 9pm seven days a week in the final months. The museum also hosted reduced sensory experience sessions, to accommodate the needs of diverse audiences alongside an equity of access education program for socio-disadvantaged schools across NSW. The AM’s public program of lectures, conversations, and school holiday events for audiences provided a deeper understanding of the exhibition.

Executive Chairman & Group CEO of presenting partner NEON, Ron Tan, said the success of the exhibition is a testament to the enduring appeal of Ancient Egypt.

“Being able to share the wonders of Ramses’ reign is a true joy. It reaffirms the power of history to captivate and inspire and we are so proud to have partnered with the Australian Museum to bring Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs to Australia,” Ron Tan said.

World Heritage Exhibitions CEO John Norman said Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs has seen record-breaking attendance across the world, and Sydney has been no exception.

“In touring this extraordinary exhibition to major cities across the globe, we have seen first-hand the overwhelming positive reaction from audiences who are captivated by Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs. Australians have embraced their love for Ancient Egypt and it has certainly brough the countries closer together,” John Norman said.

Once packed up from the Australian Museum, Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs will travel to Germany, where it will be hosted by Odysseum in Cologne from 13 July.

Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs was presented in partnership with World Heritage Exhibitions, Neon Global and the Houston Museum of Natural Science, with the support of Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The exhibition was proudly supported by the NSW Government through the Create NSW Blockbuster Funding initiative, Adventure World and Accor Hotels.

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Media Contacts

Australian Museum:

Claire Vince, Media and Communications Adviser
T 0468 726 910
E Claire.Vince@Australian.Museum

Articulate PR:

Isabel Wright
T 0400 359 485
E isabel@articulatepr.com.au

Clare Callaghan
T 0450 223 485
E clare@articulatepr.com.au

Claire Martin
T 0414 437 588
E claire@articulatepr.com.au

About the Australian Museum

The Australian Museum (AM) was founded in 1827 and is the nation’s first museum. It is internationally recognised as a natural science and culture institution focused on Australia and the Pacific. As custodian of more than 22 million objects and specimens, the AM is uniquely positioned to provide a greater understanding of the region through its scientific research, exhibitions, and public and education programs. Through the Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI), the AM also plays a leading role in conserving Australia’s biodiversity through understanding the environmental impacts of climate change, potential bio-security threats and invasive species. Visit Australian Museum for more information.

About NEON

NEON, formerly Cityneon, is a global leader in creating and producing experiential entertainment. NEON enjoys worldwide partnerships with The Walt Disney Company and Marvel Entertainment for Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. and Marvel Avengers Station: Evolution, 20th Century Studios for AVATAR: The Exhibition, Hasbro for Transformers: The Experience, NBCUniversal for Jurassic World: The Exhibition, and Lionsgate for The Hunger Games: The Exhibition. It also has a partnership with Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment to produce two brand-new, unique global touring themed art experiences namely Harry Potter: Visions of Magic that premiered in Cologne, Germany, in December 2023, and a DC inspired experience slated to debut in 2025. The Company also partners with the governments of Egypt and Peru for their original artefact IP experiences, Ramses the Great & the Gold of the Pharaohs and Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, respectively, plus authentic artefact tours Pompeii: The Exhibition, Mummies of the World: The Exhibition, and Victoria the T. Rex.

The Group’s IP experiences are powered by ANIMAX, a fully owned subsidiary and a world-class creative animatronics powerhouse that specialises in research and development, engineering and entertainment robotics, with state-of-the-art facilities located in Nashville, US, Wuxi, China and the Middle East. NEON’s global partnerships have enabled the Group to bring compelling experiences that leave lasting memories to millions of visitors in more than 70 cities to date globally. For more information, please visit www.neonglobal.com.

About World Heritage Exhibitions

World Heritage Exhibitions (WHE) is renowned for producing, promoting, and designing the finest quality museum content on the globe. Their exhibitions have captivated, educated, and inspired visitors in virtually every major market on the planet. With a combined 150 years of exhibition experience, the WHE executive team has been responsible for touring many of the world’s most valuable treasures, including objects from King Tutankhamun’s tomb, relics from Cleopatra’s Royal Palace, artefacts from the Titanic, items from the discovery of Pompeii, and more.

About Adventure World

Adventure World is an established and passionate group of global adventurers. With more than 40 years of experience, Adventure World has been curating authentic and sustainable travel experiences to guarantee its guests experience the lifeblood of a destination, with the flexibility of customisable itineraries. All Adventure World product is underpinned by its Travel with Purpose charter, to celebrate and conserve culture, create socio-economic benefits for communities, protect wildlife and restore marine life all the while creating authentic opportunities for like-minded travellers aid us in the mission. We work closely with our partners TreadRight Foundation, Animals Asia and the Australian Museum, and work towards meeting 11 of the United Nations’ Global Sustainable Development Goals and putting into action, our travel with purpose philosophy