Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory facts for kids
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MAGNT Darwin in 2023
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| Established | 1981 |
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| Founder | Colin Jack-Hinton |
The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT for short) is the main museum in Australia's Northern Territory. Its main building is in The Gardens, a suburb of Darwin.
The museum is a place to see amazing art and learn about history. It is run by a group called the Board of the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Each year, MAGNT shows off cool exhibits it creates, as well as special shows that travel from other parts of Australia.
It is also home to the yearly Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award. This is the oldest and most famous art award in Australia for Indigenous Australian artists.
Contents
A Story of Survival
The idea for a museum in Darwin started in 1964. The first museum opened in the Old Town Hall on Smith Street. It was filled with art and objects from Southeast Asian and Pacific cultures, as well as items from maritime history, science, and Indigenous Australian culture.
In 1974, a powerful storm called Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin. The cyclone badly damaged the Old Town Hall and some of the museum's collections. The items that were saved had to be stored in different buildings all over the city.
It took three years, but in 1977, the government agreed to build a new museum. The new building opened on September 10, 1981. It was first called the Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences. In 1993, it was renamed the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, which is the name it has today.
Amazing Things to See Inside
MAGNT has a huge collection of over 30,000 items. These include art, historical objects, and items from different cultures.
One of the most famous exhibits is the body of Sweetheart. Sweetheart was a giant saltwater crocodile that was over 5 meters long! In the 1970s, he became famous for attacking boats. Today, you can see this legendary crocodile up close at the museum.
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More Than Just One Museum
MAGNT is not just one building. It manages several important historical and cultural sites across the Northern Territory.
Fannie Bay Gaol
MAGNT looks after the Fannie Bay Gaol. This is an old, historic jail located in the Darwin suburb of Fannie Bay. It gives visitors a peek into what prison life was like long ago.
Defence of Darwin Experience
This special museum tells the story of what happened in the Northern Territory during World War II. It focuses on the Bombing of Darwin in 1942. The museum has fun, interactive displays that help you understand this important part of Australia's history. It is located at the Darwin Military Museum.
Museum of Central Australia
In the city of Alice Springs, MAGNT manages the Museum of Central Australia. This museum is part of the Araluen Arts Precinct. It also includes the Strehlow Research Centre, which is dedicated to studying Indigenous cultures.
The Chan Building
In 2015, the government announced a plan to turn the historic Chan Building in Darwin into a new art museum run by MAGNT. The project involved a lot of work and money to make the old building into a modern space for art.
Special Art Shows
In 2020, MAGNT held a big exhibition for the artist Nyapanyapa Yunupingu. It was called "the moment eternal: Nyapanyapa Yunupiŋu". The show featured more than 60 of her artworks. It was a special event because it was the first time MAGNT had a solo show for an Aboriginal Australian artist.
See also
