Public Events

January

Tuesday 6 January
University Museums, 10am–4.30pm

University Information Day

The Macleay Museum, University Art Gallery and the Nicholson Museum will be open to the public during the University of Sydney’s annual Information Day.

Free entry

Wednesday 7 January, 12 noon
University Art Gallery

Free lunchtime tour of the Art Gallery

Join us for a monthly guided tour of the University Art Gallery and its current exhibition. Lunch for the mind and the soul.
Free entry

Monday 12 – Friday 16 January and Monday 19 – Friday 23 January

Sydney University Museums, daily

Kid’s Museums: School Holiday Activities

Activities for children aged 5-12 at Sydney University Museums this summer holidays are:

Handling the Past: Join an archaeologist in the Nicholson Education Room to handle artefacts from Egypt, Greece and Rome.
10am daily, $10 entry per child, parents free

Framing the Landscape: Join us in the University Art Gallery to learn about landscapes and to create your own
11am daily, free entry

The Microscopic World: Join us in the Macleay Museum to take a up-close look at the small world around us.
1pm daily, free entry

Mummies Alive: The Nicholson Museum has been taken over by mummies. Come and find out how Ancient Egyptians wrapped dead bodies.
2pm daily, $5 per child, parents free

Bookings essential as places are limited. Each session runs for an hour. It is possible to book for a single session, or for multiple sessions in a single day. Bookings: (02) 9351 2812.

February

Sunday 1 February
Macleay Museum 12noon - 4pm

Kids Museums: The Year of the Ox

Celebrate the Chinese New Year and help welcome in the Year of the Ox with a series of activities for children looking at Chinese culture and natural history. Hear talks in Mandarin and English, take part in arts and crafts sessions and help us decorate our new year ox.

Free entry, bookings not necessary.
Details: (02) 9036 5253

Event held in conjunction with the City of Sydney Chinese New Year Festival 2009.

Join us at 2pm on February 1 in the quadrangle for a free carillon performance for the Chinese New Year titled The Ox.

Wednesday 4 February
Nicholson Museum, 6.30pm

Public Lecture by Dr Peter Jia (University of Sydney): Are they Chinese? Are they from China? East meets West in Chinese Archaeology

Chinese culture has a variety of historical symbols - such as Chinese New Year, Dragon boat racing and the Peking Opera - which have continuously developed in an isolated environment without contact with the rest of the world.

However, current archaeological study has discovered that contact between China and the West started at a very early date and continued throughout Chinese history. These early contacts were made through two major routes: the land-based and maritime silk roads. Chinese culture would not be as diverse and well-developed without the influence of the rest of the world.

Bookings: (02) 9351 2812
Cost: $25, $20 for Friends of the Nicholson Museum
Event held in conjunction with the City of Sydney Chinese New Year Festival 2009

Wednesday 11 February
University Art Gallery, 12 noon - 1pm

Free lunchtime tour of the Art Gallery

Join us for a monthly guided tour of the University Art Gallery and its current exhibition. Lunch for the mind and the soul.

Free entry, bookings not necessary
Information: (02) 9351 6883

Thurdsay 12 February
Macleay Museum

Charles Darwin's Birthday

The Macleay Museum exhibitions Accidental Encounters, WS Macleay and the Natural History Circle and Futurescape open to the public today to celebrate the bicentennial for the birth of Charles Darwin.

Sunday 15 February
University Art Gallery, 12noon - 4pm

Kids Museums: Melting in the Sun

A fun-filled day with art. Creative activities to help children explore the world of the visual arts, based around the exhibition Melt.

Free entry, bookings not necessary.
Information: (02) 9351 6883

Monday 16 February
Macleay Museum, 6pm

Opening of Accidental Encounters

Join us for a musical soiree for the Macleay Museum's exhibition Accidental Encounters. Featuring Victorian period music. Bookings required as there are only 100 places available for this event.

Cost: $20 per person
Bookings: (02) 9036 5253