Event Showcase: Nocturnal at Melbourne Museum

On an average day, the Melbourne Museum is alive with excited children admiring the wealth of anthropological treasures on display in one of many beautifully curated exhibition spaces. On the first Friday of each month, this iconic post-modern architectural gem is transformed into an adult playground where music, art, science and self-directed learning collide to form a cultural event unlike any other found in the city.

At Nocturnal, there’s a feeling of excitement and adventurous spirit in the air. It’s apparent from the look on all the faces, that many people are rediscovering the space for the first time since childhood. Fully grown adult guests gather around the ginormous LED-lit whale skeleton, lounge beside Indigenous artefacts, and wander up to the Melbourne Story Gallery to visit Phar Lap with a glass of wine in hand.

Unlike at a regular weekend gig or gallery opening in Melbourne, there’s a sense at Nocturnal that every guest is attending in search for a truly unique experience. There are no set rules in this space but there's no presence of pushy crowds or obnoxious party-goers, people are respectful of the space and of each other.

The November instalment of Nocturnal focused on social change, featuring exhibitions The Mind, Dynamic Earth, WWI: Love & Sorrow, Melbourne Story and Women of the Land, with engaging talks from knowledgeable staff and academics at the entrance to many exhibition spaces.

The expansive museum foyer was set up as the bar and band space, acting as a natural hub and allowing people to flow in and out for the evening. While the event was a chance for guests to catch up with friends and have a dance to the carefully curated music program, the Nocturnal event series has been produced to blur the binary between science and art.

Between music acts, guests float through the Museum’s many exhibits, discovering new specimens with a glass of cab sauv or a bottle of craft beer in hand.

On this occasion, the world-class event space was filled with immersive electronic dance music from Melbourne’s own world-renowned producer, Roland Tings. While Tings has done his fair share of shows in International venues and on the Australian festival circuit, Friday night was the world premiere of the three piece band, featuring Julian Sudek on drums and electronic pads and Yama Hondow-Wellby on keys.

The unique dancey sounds were perfectly matched with tessellating projections and psychedelic audio visual artwork featuring characters from the Museum’s Science and Life Gallery.

To the right of the stage, unconventional furniture provided an activity for guests not so keen on moving their bodies to the beat. Groups gathered around the red funnel chairs and span their mates around while bopping to the infectious sounds of Roland Tings, surf-synth from Andras and jazz influenced electronica from Annie Bass.

As an event space, the Melbourne Museum is unconventional in the best possible way. Glass panelled hallways become dining rooms and dimly lit exhibition spaces are converted into black tie venues. Think cocktail parties surrounded by dinosaurs in the Science and Life Gallery, or vows exchanged amongst friends in the spectacular Treetops room.

Nocturnal is a perfect example of an event produced with a little out-of-the-box thinking and a lot of creativity. Against the glowing night sky, the huge venue is filled with excited guests, eager to  re-engage with their inquisitive side and take a trip back to childhood.

‘Unique’ may be top contender for the most overused buzz word in the events industry right now, but the Nocturnal event series is particularly special, and one that we’ll definitely be returning to.

Missed out on the collision of science, art and culture this month? The next Nocturnal takes place on Friday 1 December, featuring No Zu, Midlife and Opalaika.

Want to party amongst historical and anthropological treasures in an iconic Melbourne building? Book the perfect unique space at the Melbourne Museum