Tutankhamun Exhibition Breaks All Australian Records

Today Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs became the most successful touring exhibition in Australian history announcing its 500,000th visitor.

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs had previously set a record when it opened to the public on 8 April with 150,000 tickets pre-sold. Now four months into its seven month run, the exhibition has exceeded attendance figures for all Australian exhibitions that have come before it.

Premier and Minister for the Arts Ted Baillieu said the exhibition was a coup for Victoria that has drawn local, national and international visitors of all ages to Melbourne.

"This fantastic exhibition is the talk of Melbourne and the many regional visitors who have experienced its wonders," Mr Baillieu said.

"It is clearly the biggest Victorian cultural event of the year and one of Australia's biggest major events for 2011.

"The Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series has brought some fascinating and important exhibitions to Melbourne and it is exclusive events like this - and the staggering public response - that reinforces Melbourne's reputation as Australia's home of major events and the national hub of arts and culture."

Reaching the 500,000th visitor ranks the exhibition higher than Melbourne Museum's A Day in Pompeii in 2009 which attracted 332,679 people and Titanic the Artefact exhibition in 2010 which reached 480,879 in its six-month run. Interstate the highest attended exhibition had been the National Gallery of Australia's Masterpieces from Paris, which recorded attendances of 476,000.

Not only has Tutankhamun surpassed the previous record held by Titanic by almost 20,000 but it has done so in just four months.

Stephen Flint Wood, Managing Director of IMG Arts & Entertainment, said of the milestone "‘Tutmania' is alive and well in Australia, and with another three months left in the run, this will be a precedent setting cultural event for the country. It is fantastic to see such excitement about a period in time which holds so much historical significance."

"I would like to acknowledge and thank the Victorian Government, the Victorian Major Events Company and Melbourne Museum as the Australian visit of this exhibition has only been possible through our partnership with them."

Dr J Patrick Greene, CEO Museum Victoria said high-profile touring exhibitions such as Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs added significant value to both the Museum, as well as to the state of Victoria.

"Tutankhamun is one of the most significant exhibitions ever to visit Australia. The extraordinary artefacts from ancient Egypt have attracted thousands of visitors from metropolitan and regional Victoria, as well as interstate and overseas," Dr Greene said.

"It also provides a wonderful complement to our award-winning galleries at Melbourne Museum, our public programs and to the experiences that Museum Victoria provides for its visitors every day."

Other key figures for Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs announced today:
- 35% of visitors to the exhibition are from interstate or overseas which makes it Victoria's leading cultural tourism driver.
- 90,000 school children from junior and secondary schools have enjoyed the treasures of the boy king.
A Day in Pompeii recorded 30,000.

There are just three months left until the doors to Tutankhamun's treasures in Australia close on 6 November.

This is the first visit of King Tutankhamun's treasures to Australia, and Melbourne is the exhibition's one and only stop on the continent. Advanced booking is recommended to guarantee desired date and time.

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs is a National Geographic exhibition that explores the figures who guided ancient Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. The exhibition focuses on the 18th Dynasty, a 250-year period when Egypt was at the height of its power and the "Golden Age" of Egyptian artistry. This was the era when Tutankhamun and his ancestors reigned.

The exhibition is organised by the National Geographic Society, Arts and Exhibitions International and IMG, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. The Australian visit is made possible by a partnership with the Victorian Coalition Government, Victorian Major Events Company and Melbourne Museum.

BOOKINGS:

TICKETS ON SALE FOR SESSIONS UNTIL 16 OCTOBER 2011 (exhibition runs until 6 November 2011)
kingtutmelbourne.com.au or telephone Ticketek 132 849

More information is available at kingtutmelbourne.com.au

PRICES:
Adults from $29.50
Children from $17.50
Concessions from $26.50
Family 4 Pack (2 adults & 2 children) from $80.00

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