Immigration Museum announces Becoming You: An incomplete guide

19 February 2020

Following a public call for submissions, the Immigration Museum today reveals that 71 stories about navigating the journey from childhood to adulthood will be featured in Becoming You: An incomplete guide.

Amongst the storytellers are editor and dancer Adolfo Aranjuez, astrophysicist Alan Duffy, writer Alice Pung, model Andreja Pejic, artist Atong Atem, poet and critic Fiona Wright, climate activist Harriet O'Shea Carre, disability activist Jax Jacki Brown, AFL footballer Jason Johannisen, fashion designer Jenny Bannister, drag queen Karen from Finance, activist and former Greens MP Lidia Thorpe, rapper Nathan Bird (Birdz), ballet dancer and actor Noel Tovey, comedian and writer Osamah Sami, documentary filmmaker Santilla Chingaipe and cross-cultural consultant Tasneem Chopra.

Alongside the experiences of these more well-known identities will be the surprising, delightful and moving stories of everyday people reflecting the diversity of contemporary Australian society.

Storytellers – who are between the ages of 13 to 88 and who come from diverse and intersectional backgrounds – will each share a coming-of-age moment from their journey to adulthood.

From first kisses to pushing the boundaries, 71 relatable real-life stories will be presented in unexpected and immersive environments, covering it all: the good, the bad, the embarrassing, the triumphant, the monumental and the seemingly mundane.

These personal stories have taken place in every decade since the 1940s, in schools and hospitals, kitchens and bedrooms, pubs and clubs, theatres and catwalks, cars and trams, playgrounds and streets.

They primarily chart the Victorian landscape of Melbourne, Bendigo, Gippsland, Castlemaine, Horsham, Kerang and the Wimmera, but also travel as far afield as the United States, New Zealand, Myanmar and Italy.

Rohini Kappadath, general manager, Immigration Museum said that Becoming You: An incomplete guide is reflective of the museum’s commitment to exploring the stories of all Victoria and the wider nation’s diverse communities.

“Navigating the journey from childhood to adulthood is an experience that is variously messy, emotional, often hilarious (in hindsight) and different for everyone. This exhibition will be full of relatable memories and will highlight that there is no one correct way to become an adult. I hope that it will leave visitors with a better understanding and even acceptance of their past selves.”

The exhibition is being developed in-house at Museums Victoria by a multi-talented team in collaboration with this diverse range of community and creative contributors. Stay tuned as further details about this exciting experience are revealed in the coming weeks.

Becoming You: An incomplete guide will be on display from Saturday 18 April 2020 until February 2021 at the Immigration Museum.

Interviews available with:

• Rohini Kappadath, General Manager, Immigration Museum
• Zoe Meagher, Experience Developer, Museums Victoria
• Dr Moya McFadzean, Exhibition Curator, Museums Victoria