Conservator Charlotte Walker putting Madame Serini's salmon and gold cape on the mannequin.
Tour

Italian Art and Design: Behind the Scenes Collections Tour

Thursday 21 & Saturday 23 May

Museums Victoria / Melbourne Museum / What's on / Italian Art and Design: Behind the Scenes Collections Tour

This tour invites audiences into the heart of Museums Victoria’s collections for a rare glimpse into Italian creativity and craftsmanship.

Led by museum experts, participants will see objects spanning migration, art, fashion, and architectural design, uncovering the stories behind their creation, influence, and preservation.

By connecting history to collection care and curation, this experience offers a special insight into how museums safeguard design legacies while inspiring future generations.

After the tour, we welcome you to step into ROME: Empire, Power, People, extending the experience into the broader story of Roman influence and legacy.

Italian Language Tour

The 1pm session on Thursday 21 May will be delivered in Italian by Elizabeth Triarico (see below), Manager, CO.AS.IT. Italian Historical Society and Museo Italiano. Please note this session will be conducted in Italian only, with no English interpretation provided.

 


This program has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Italian Australian Foundation.

This event is part of Melbourne Design Week 2026, an initiative of the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.

Partners

Includes museum entry

Adult $59

Concession $51

Member Adult $49

Member Concession $44

Date & Time

Thursday 21 & Saturday 23 May

11am & 1pm
(45 minutes duration)

Key information

IMPORTANT: The 1pm Thursday 21 May tour will be delivered in Italian with no English interpretation provided. More info below.

PRESENTERS

English Language Presenters

11am Thursday 21 May, 11am & 1pm Saturday 23 May

Curator Moya McFadzean with newly acquired objects belonging to artist Mirka Mora
Moya McFadzean / Source: Museums Victoria / Photo: Jon Augier

Dr Moya McFadzean is responsible for developing the museum's migration and diversity-related collections and exhibitions, including collections representing Italian migration and settlement, frequently in collaboration with COASIT Museo Italiano.. Her curatorial work focuses on the application of material culture and memory of migration and cultural diversity to interpretations of Australian migration, refugee and asylum seeker narratives, as well as museums as sites of social activism and their potential for developing relationships of genuine engagement and reciprocity with communities. She has widely published and presented on these subjects in national and international forums.

Italian Language Presenter

1pm Thursday 21 May

B.A., Graduate Diploma Museum Studies, Graduate Diploma of Management

Elizabeth Triarico

Elizabeth is a long-standing museum and cultural heritage management and interpretation professional. In her role as Manager of the CO.AS.IT. Italian Historical Society & Museo Italiano located in Melbourne, she works closely with the Italian community to document, preserve and promote Australia’s rich Italian immigration and settlement story. Elizabeth is the co-ordinator of the 2019 Victorian Community History Award Winning IHS Exhibition, Carlo Catani, Visionary Creator Genius (which was presented in both English and Italian).

ACCESSIBILITY

Please view our accessibility page for general information. A sensory map of Melbourne Museum can be found on our Visual Stories page where step-by-step visual and written access guides are available. Contact our team on 13 11 02 or email us at [email protected] to discuss how we can support your visit.