Accessibility

Where to find the Australian Music Vault

The Australian Music Vault exhibition is located at Arts Centre Melbourne in the Theatres Building on Level 6 (street level). The main entry and exit points are on either side of the lifts in the foyer on Level 6, opposite the Welcome Desk. An additional exit point is at the rear of the exhibition with access to toilets and Café Vic.


We want you to enjoy your visit to the Australian Music Vault. If you feel uncomfortable at any point during your visit, feel free at any time to:

Go to the Welcome Desk for assistance

Leave the exhibition and return later

Observe the exhibition from Level 7, if you need a break

Bring in any item that will help you feel comfortable in the exhibition, such as headphones, sunglasses, mobility aids 


  Wheelchair & Pram access

The exhibition is accessible for wheelchairs and prams from street level and the car park, with lifts operating between all levels of the Theatres Building. All levels of the Arts Centre Melbourne Car Park are fully wheelchair accessible with parking bays available on both levels.

Complimentary loan wheelchairs can also be booked to assist with travel throughout the building. Please call our contact centre on 1300 182 183 for assistance with loaning a wheelchair.

In the exhibition space, there is ample maneuverability for wheelchairs and prams to view display cases, watch Engagement Zone video content, enter The Amplifier, and access the Digital Labels (touch screens) and adjoining Spotify music collection points. 

Our Mixtape vending machines are not wheelchair accessible, please visit the Welcome Desks in the foyer of the Theatres Building on Level 6 (street level) and our Visitor Experience staff can assist with operation of the machines.


 Closed Captioning

All video content throughout the exhibition space are closed captioned except the following of video content featured in the below areas (see map):

Welcome Screen video at exhibition entrance

Temporary Display

The Amplifier 

EZ: The Real Thing | Ian B. Allen: Musician, Promotion, Producer Discusses Early Rock n Roll

EZ: Hip Hop | All 10 videos


 Vision Impaired

Braille is used in the lifts, as well as other areas of Arts Centre Melbourne for our audiences who are blind or have low vision. There is no braille or other assistance available within the exhibition for digital labels (touch screens) or physical text panels.


Welcome Desk & Visitor Experience staff

Welcome Desks are located in the foyer of the Theatres Building on street level, directly opposite the entrances to the Australian Music Vault exhibition. Our Visitor Experience team members can assist with the following:

Directions to facilities within the Theatres Building
Instructions and assistance with AMV Mixtape vending machines
Providing headphones 


Toilets

There are accessible toilets in the Theatres Building on Levels 3, 5, 6 and 8. Towards the rear of the exhibition near Café Vic, there are male, female and accessible toilets and a baby change room.  


AMV Mixtape Vending Machines

There are two AMV Mixtape vending machines located behind the entrance/exit to the exhibition (right side of the foyer lifts), where you can purchase a Mixtape card to collect songs from the Spotify music collection points on the Digital Labels (touch screens). If you require assistance with using the vending machines, our Visitor Experience staff at the Welcome Desks can assist.

The Mixtape vending machines are not wheelchair accessible but Mixtape cards can be purchased in person at the Welcome Desks in the foyer of the Theatres Building (street level).  

Height from floor:
Operational touch screen: 1200mm – 1300mm

The Amplifier

The Amplifier is a darkened, enclosed space with entry via a glass sliding door.  Visitors are surrounded by 360 degree film projections including moving images, lighting and music. 

Due to the multiple film projectors in this closed space, ventilation is limited and the room can become warm. Audio visual content within The Amplifier can be viewed from outside through the glass sliding door if sound and light levels are excessive for some viewers.

Dimensions:
Interior: 3m x 4m
Entrance door width (when open): 940mm

Warnings: 
Flashing lights, moving images, audio volume, enclosed space, heat, low air circulation 

Some material in this exhibition may be considered unsuitable for children as it contains strong language, some nudity and drug references. Parent or guardian discretion is recommended.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander guests should be aware that content may contain images and names of people who have passed away.

AMV Soundscape & LED light display (above The Amplifier)

The AMV Soundscape is an audio and synchronised LED lighting display that sits above The Amplifier with music and sound effects designed to match three of the curatorial narratives in the exhibition. The LED light display flashes in synchronisation with the soundscape at varying speeds and intervals with colours ranging from blue, red, purple, yellow and orange.

Each curatorial soundscape is approximately four minutes long separated by 30 second transition states. Small waves of music and abstract sound effects are distributed over the entire exhibition space via eight channel downward-facing speakers. The soundscape volume can be loud at various points throughout the exhibition space through these speakers and include effects such as electric guitar noises, drums, crackle of vinyl, switches being turned on, amp feedback.

Warnings: 
Flashing lights, sound effects, intermittent loud audio volume

Engagement Zone videos

There are wall-mounted video touch screens in each Engagement Zone throughout the exhibition which feature archival footage and video content with still images, AMV produced interviews and archival footage. Two sets of headphones are provided at each screen.

Dimensions:
32” screens

Height from floor:
Agents of Change: 1270mm
Screens in all other sections: 903mm
 
Warnings: 
LCD screens, moving images

Some material in this exhibition may be considered unsuitable for children as it contains strong language, some nudity and drug references. Parent or guardian discretion is recommended.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander guests should be aware that content may contain images and names of people who have passed away.

Digital Labels (touch screens)

Eleven LCD touch screens are located throughout exhibition displaying still images of objects, text and audio.  There are over-head speakers located above each digital label, where music audio playback is activated by via the touch screen. Floor mounted screens are titled forward for greater accessibility.

Dimensions:
20” screen

Lowest point (from ground): 830mm
Highest point (from ground): 930mm

Warnings: 
LCD screens, brightness

More Information

For more information on visiting Arts Centre Melbourne, please see our visual stories Plan Your Visit or visit: artscentremelbourne.com.au/visit/accessibility