Ancient Egypt, Modern Curatorship

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Recommended age: 16+

Duration: 90 minutes, then participants can enjoy the exhibition at their leisure.

Ancient Egypt, Modern Curatorship is your opportunity to break bread with one of the country’s leading museum curators, Dr Melanie Pitkin, and explore the ethics of museums and ancient Egyptian collections. Learn the importance of establishing provenance and ownership histories, and how these narratives feed into the multiple histories of Egypt. Hosted by Ali Bahnasawy.

Following your Egyptian-inspired breakfast, join Dr Pitkin as she guides you on an exclusive out-of-hours highlight tour of Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs and shares the stories behind her favourite pieces.

Your ticket includes:

• Light Egyptian-inspired breakfast (set menu)
• Expert presentation in an intimate setting followed by Q&A session with the audience
• Exclusive out-of-hours access to Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs
• 20-minute bespoke tour of Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs presented by our expert host

Note: Ticket price does NOT include VR experience or exhibition audio guide.

Melanie Pitkin is Senior Curator of the Nicholson Collection of antiquities and archaeology at the Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney, and an Egyptologist. She has more than 15 years of experience working in museums in Australia and the United Kingdom and providing support to colleagues at museums in Egypt.

Melanie holds a PhD in Egyptology from Macquarie University. Her thesis examined the understudied First Intermediate Period through a study of its false doors and stelae, which was recently published by Golden House Press. Prior to joining the Chau Chak Wing Museum in February 2022, Melanie worked as a Research Associate (Egyptian Antiquities) at the Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge.

Ali Bahnasawy is a migrant, a published author, and a TV presenter. He was born in Egypt and has lived and worked as a journalist in the U.S., Germany, and Australia. As a journalist and TV presenter, Ali is dedicated to amplifying migrant voices and perspectives within the broader Australian society.

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