1. Australian Centre for the Moving Image, exterior
    Photograph: Shannon McGrath
  2. Australian Centre for the Moving Image, interior
    Photograph: Shannon McGrath
  3. Australian Centre for the Moving Image, interior
    Photograph: Shannon McGrath
  4. ACMI Foley room reopening 2021
    Photograph: Shannon McGrath/Supplied
  5. Two people on the ACMI staircase, with an ACMI sign in the foreground
    Photograph: Shannon McGrath
  6. Australian Centre for the Moving Image, interior
    Photograph: Shannon McGrath
  7. Australian Centre for the Moving Image, interior
    Photograph: Shannon McGrath
  8. Australian Centre for the Moving Image, interior
    Photograph: Shannon McGrath
  9. Australian Centre for the Moving Image, interior
    Photograph: Shannon McGrath

ACMI - Australian Centre for the Moving Image

There's always something eye-opening to find at Australia's national museum of TV, film, games, art and digital culture
  • Museums
  • Melbourne
Rebecca Russo
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Time Out says

ACMI is much more than meets the eye. Sure, it's home to Australia's largest moving image collection and the fascinating and fun The Story of the Moving Image permanent exhibition. But there's also cinemas, student labs and educational spaces, a media preservation lab, plus a hospitality offering from Karen Martini. 

ACMI reopened after a massive facelift in early 2021 and now boasts a swanky new architect-designed space with new and improved exhibitions, facilities, artworks and displays as well as some of the most incredible, cutting-edge technologies we’ve ever seen in a Melbourne museum.

RECOMMENDED: Read our interview with ACMI CEO Katrina Sedgwick following the reopening.

Got a couple of hours to kill? Head to The Story of the Moving Image (which is a revamped version of the old Screen Worlds exhibit) where you can check out a collection of costumes, cameras, TikTok clips, contemporary art and everything in between. It's a brilliant look into different forms of the moving image that span decades, countries and platforms. And yes, you can play video games for free. 

ACMI is free to enter but events and screenings are usually ticketed. Check out the website for current exhibits and film schedules. 

Details

Address
Federation Square
Cnr Swanston & Flinders Sts
Melbourne
3000
Transport:
Nearby stations: Flinders Street

What’s on

Game Worlds

It's your last chance to power up, unlock that final level and beat the big boss, because ACMI's Game Worlds is about to be clocked (aka it's finishing up soon). So don't let it be game over before you get a chance to enter this immersive, fully playable exhibition. Perfect for fans of The Sims, Neopets or World of Warcraft, this blockbuster celebration of video games will transport you into the worlds of more than 30 iconic titles, including Final Fantasy XIV Online, Minecraft, Doom and Stardew Valley. Also featured are classics like Maze War and Zork, fan faves with cult followings like The Elder Scrolls Online, and new releases like Guardian Maia. Spanning games from the 1970s right through to this year, you'll be able to check out rare concept art, original design materials, early hands-on protoypes and so much more. There are 44 fully playable experiences (think Celeste speedruns on two huge screens), and four new microgames by emerging and established Aussie game developers have been specially commissioned for the exhibition.   “Our exhibition honours the real-life experiences that are made possible by and through videogames, highlighting the players and developers – and stories that bring videogame worlds to life,” said co-curators Bethan Johnson and Jini Maxwell. Want to take a part of the exhibition home with you? There's limited-edition merch and exclusive books available for purchase at the ACMI shop. Game Worlds is now on at ACMI until March 29. For more...
  • Exhibitions
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