ABSTRACT
<<ABSTRACT Many cultural institutions had by the 1980s made great advances, and those lagging behind were keen to catch up. Economic prosperity increased experimentation: new business models were trialled and a consolidation of other government mechanisms, like indemnity, supported these ventures. This chapter begins with the next phase of the Australian Gallery Directors Council which saw greater emphasis on commercial imperatives, with marketing campaigns and corporate sponsorship becoming indispensable. The commercialisation of blockbusters, and the increased capacity of a range of institutions, resulted in a competitive landscape in which an increasing variety of exhibitions were presented. These were diverse in terms of subject matter and location, as natural history museums began their foray into blockbusters. Cultural institutions expanded under the leadership of a new generation of entrepreneurial directors who sought to give prominence to regular blockbuster exhibitions to attract a broad audience and demonstrate value to government funders.
Key exhibitions
Dinosaurs from China, Melbourne and Sydney, 1982–3
Gold of the Pharaohs, multiple venues across Australia, 1988–9>>
