While the Australian War Memorial is closed to visitors during the ACT Government's lockdown to reduce the spread of COVID-19, it remains committed to sharing the stories of the Australian experience of war and military service.
During the time you cannot visit in person, you can still connect with the Memorial online through Museum At Home, an extensive range of online digital content and stories of Australian servicemen and women: www.awm.gov.au/visit/museumathome
Museum At Home shares resources including podcast series, documentaries, 360-degree digital experiences and a number of online exhibitions.
Australian War Memorial Director Matt Anderson said that through Museum At Home, the Memorial is continuing to offer ways for people to stay connected across the nation and the world.
"We remain committed to connecting the public with the stories of Australia's servicemen and servicewomen through online and digital initiatives while our galleries are closed," Mr Anderson said.
"The extensive podcast series Collected explores artefacts that make up the National Collection of the Memorial. Throughout the 31 individual episodes, obscure, popular, strange, and wonderful items in the collection are brought to life through conversations with historians and curators, and first-hand accounts from the people connected with these artefacts."
"With our On Closer Inspection online 360-degree video and VR technology exhibition you can take a look at some of the Memorial's large technology objects - inside and out - including the Lancaster Bomber and 'Grit', the First World War tank."
"Another online exhibition, 3D Treasures, features a selection of collection objects in 3D. This gives you a closer view than ever before - and closer than you would ever see on a visit to the Memorial."
Commemoration continues during lockdown each day at 4:45pm on the Memorial's Facebook page. Here you can share a Last Post Ceremony chosen from the Memorial's archive of previous ceremonies.
For students, teachers and homeschooling parents, the Memorial's Classroom Resources website has many educational activities to keep everyone busy: https://www.awm.gov.au/learn/schools/resources
While the Memorial isn't open to visit for schools and families, there are still opportunities to explore online tour options. They include Tiny Tours: short films for early learners that encompass a tour and craft activity; Virtually There: thirty-minute films that encourage primary and secondary students to explore the Australian War Memorial and its collection; Virtual visit: use Google Street View to explore the Memorial's galleries at your own pace; Art of Nation: explore photographs and works of art as founder Charles Bean originally intended, in the space that he designed in 1919.
https://www.awm.gov.au/learn/schools/resources/onlinetours.
"We're encouraging our online visitors and their families to share their virtual visits with us and the broader community by posting photos and messages on social media. Use the hashtag #MuseumAtHome and tag @AWMemorial to have them featured on our website," Mr Anderson said.
Members of the public can connect with the Memorial on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.
