Powerhouse Parramatta opened in Western Sydney, Australia, on November 7 with outdoor spaces accessible for 24 hours. Gardens and promenades link the river with Phillip Street. About 25,000 people registered for opening-weekend events. Most of the 179 festival events are free, while some exhibitions at the new museum charge admission.
Powerhouse Parramatta, the new museum in Western Sydney, Australia, opened to the public on November 7. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and Arts Minister John Graham attended the ceremony. About 3,000 objects are on display across 18,000 square metres of exhibition and public space. Around 25,000 people registered for opening-weekend events; that figure counts registrations rather than visitors who passed through the doors.[1], [2]
The museum’s outdoor spaces are accessible for 24 hours. Gardens, amphitheatres and promenades connect the Parramatta River with Phillip Street. Interim chief executive Abbie Galvin described the completed building as a cultural institution for the Western Sydney community. The opening brings the riverfront site into public use alongside the indoor exhibition areas.[1]
An opening festival runs until November 29, across three weeks and four weekends. It includes 179 events, most of them free. Some museum exhibitions charge admission. The festival covers First Nations culture, science and technology, design, music, film and food. The programme extends the opening celebrations beyond the first weekend at the new museum.[1]
