SBW / NIDA ARCHIVES & PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION

In 2004 NIDA and the Seaborn, Broughton & Walford (SBW) Foundation initiated a joint project to organise and develop their performing arts collections as a major Australian cultural resource. This long-term project will involve cataloguing, conserving and digitally capturing and making available these most valuable treasures.

Having been stored in numerous locations for the past four decades the collection is now housed at a large new Archive facility in Alexandria which was acquired in late 2005 with the assistance of Dr Rodney Seaborn AO OBE.

This rich and diverse collection of theatre memorabilia includes the:

NIDA Paper Archive;
SBW Foundation Collection;
Costume Research Collection;
NIDA Photographic collection;
Marionette Theatre of Australia Puppet Collection, which includes Peter Scriven's Tintookies as well as
Production costumes from the Old Tote Theatre Company, audio-visual material, set models and design rendering.

ACCESS TO THE NIDA/SBW FOUNDATION ARCHIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION

Access is by appointment only, after emailing, writing or telephoning Archive staff to advise them of your area of research. In this way, researchers can be assured, before visiting, that the collection contains material that will be of interest to them. At this stage a limited number of appointments can be made. However, it is anticipated that visitor numbers will be increased as the project develops.

Please note: The Archive is a research collection only and as such has a non-lending policy. Visitors will be able to view and read materials, but will not be able to borrow. A photocopying service is available, but due to restrictions under the Copyright Act, some material may be excluded.

Postal Address:
UNSW Sydney NSW 2052

Street Address:
Unit 2 Century Estate
476-492 Gardeners Road
Alexandria NSW 2052

For further information contact:

Dr. Peter Orlovich
Head of Archives | 02 8372 0205 | email

Archive Staff:

Joanne Burgess
Archivist | 02 8372 0206 | email

Ann Peck
Assistant Archivist | 02 8372 0206 | email

The Archive and Performing Arts Collection would like to acknowledge the generosity and support of:

Andrew Banks
Lady Nancy Fairfax OBE
Frederick J Gibson
Peter & Sharon Ivany
Lord Mayor's Charitable Trust (Eldon and Anne Foote Trust)
Margaret Augusta Farrell Trust
Dr Rodney Seaborn AO OBE
Isaac & Susan Wakil
The Wolanski Foundation
Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA)

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