‘The Beach invites us all to come together – gently - to reconnect with the coastal rituals that shape Australian life with the shoreline’s spirit of welcome, play and shared stories.’ Ms Daryl Karp AM
The centrepiece of the Australian National Maritime Museum’s summer program is an activation called The Beach. It is an exhibition and an all-ages playscape. It was developed to bring us closer together, and to remind us that kindness and care are the foundations of a strong and compassionate community.
The Beach captures our shared values - looking after one another, welcoming difference, and celebrating our seaside culture. It asserts that the beach belongs to all of us and should always be a safe and welcoming place.
‘Since the horror of the 14th of December, we have had a great deal of discussion about continuing,’ said Ms Daryl Karp AM, Director and CEO.
‘We have all been challenged by what that act of terrorism at one of our most famous and beloved places has done to us all. It was an act that strikes at the very heart of our Australian life.
‘After much deliberation we decided to continue, showcasing our beaches as places of connection and belonging. The shoreline has always been a place where we all meet – just open skies and shared sand – it belongs to us all, a place of joy, togetherness and shared fun.’
The Beach is where fun, art and memory meet. Digital projections, a breezy soundscape, interactive rockpools and a soft, towering, sand(less) castle transform the museum’s Lighthouse Gallery into a summer world that is both recognisable and new. Here, the beach becomes more than a destination – it becomes a way of seeing and celebrating ourselves and each other.
Event Details:
Dates: 19 December 2025 - 1 February 2026 9:30 am—5:00 pm
Location: Australian National Maritime Museum