The new world class gallery at the State Library, the Victoria Gallery will play home to ‘The Ashes’, on loan from the Marylebone Cricket Club from December 2019, in an exhibition titled, ‘Velvet, Iron, Ashes’
As the Exclusive caterer and event partner to the State Library, Showtime Event Group are developing corporate packages with private viewings and curated experiences in line with the exhibition.
Showtime Event Group General Manager, Brad Dabbs;
‘The ability to add world class exhibitions in conjunction with business events is an important part of bringing new markets in to the library. This particular exhibit aligns perfectly with the way we position our offering to the international business events market, and the incentive groups that are more and more looking at Melbourne as their next destination’.
Showtime Event Group will launch corporate dining packages in conjunction with the exhibit and the accompanying collection over the coming weeks.
Today Minister for Creative Industry (and self-confessed cricket tragic), Martin Foley announced the massive coupe for the Library, with The Ashes urn to be on display in the Victoria Gallery from December this year.
‘The Ashes is central to all cricket lovers. It will be the first time in a decade the urn will come to Australia, and only the third time in its 137 year history. In some way, it’s a homecoming being born in Sunbury’.
The minister was joined by State Library CEO Kate Torney who agreed the story of ‘The Ashes’ is epic.
‘This exhibit will tell the story in the story, behind the story. The State Library is currently the 4th visited library in the world, and we’re aiming to take that top spot.’ Said Kate.
Steve Waugh was also on hand for the launch.
The Victoria Gallery adjoins the library’s newest event space, Isabella Fraser Room, which opened for events in September 2018. The space has capacity for 200 guests seated, and up to 300 for standing events.
The Velvet, Iron, Ashes exhibit will also feature the armour worn by infamous bush ranger Ned Kelly.
The ambitious $88m State Library Vision 2020 renovation project is due for completion at the end of this year, with 11 event spaces all in operation by December. Showtime Event Group were appointed in August 2018 as the exclusive caterer and event partner to the State Library Victoria.
