Two women and a man standing outside with main Museum of the Riverina building in the background, and one of the women holding a poster promoting Museum After Dark.
CHECK IT OUT:  Council’s Museum Education and Public Programs Officer Angus Cawdell-Smith and Youth Development Office Melissa Fattore, along with Youth Community Coordinator with the Office for Regional Youth Renee Cooper, are encouraging local young people to come along to Museum After Dark.
Events & Tourism

A fun and engaging chance to explore the Museum After Dark

Published: 10 Sep 2024 2:01pm

Have you ever wondered what happens in a museum after the lights go out? Well, our area’s younger residents will soon have the opportunity to find out for themselves.

Wagga Wagga City Council is pleased to announce an upcoming program for young people called Museum After Dark, which is made possible with funding from the Office of Regional Youth as part of its Spring 2024 Holiday Break Half-Yearly Grant Program.

Young people are invited to come along to the Museum of the Riverina, Botanic Gardens site, for the ultimate spring youth school holidays event to experience the museum like never before, on Saturday 28 September 2024.

There will be retro arcade games, Nintendo Switch tournaments, Night At The Museum movie, sensory-safe spaces, dinner, fresh buttery popcorn and a DJ playing hits!

Two women and a man sitting around a retro arcade game machine.
RETRO EXPERIENCE: Classic arcade games and Nintendo Switch tournaments will be among the free activities for youth audiences at the upcoming Museum After Dark event.

Council’s Youth and Community Development Officer Mel Fattore said the event idea is based on feedback received by local young people about the provision of safe, night-time alcohol and drug free activities for youth audiences.

“We have heard from young people that they want to see more free, alcohol and drug-free, safe and inclusive events targeted towards 12 to 18-year-olds in the school holidays,” Ms Fattore said.

“This free event is open to all high-school aged people and will be held at the Museum of the Riverina’s Botanic Gardens Site on Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri Country, kicking off from 5pm after the Spring Jam Children’s Festival.”

Museum Education and Public Programs Officer Angus Cawdell-Smith is keen to see young people experience the museum site in a new light.

“One of our key goals at the Museum of the Riverina is to be a place for everyone in our community and to use our spaces in new and creative ways,” Mr Cawdell-Smith said.

“The Museum After Dark program is an excellent opportunity to invite young people to the museum for a night of retro fun."

Open gallery space inside Museum of the Riverina, with displays on the right hand side and windows on the left, and projection on the rear wall.
MOVIE TIME: This open space inside the Museum of the Riverina will be transformed into a small cinema during Museum After Dark.

Museum After Dark is an accessible event, providing free transport from various locations in Wagga Wagga and suburbs as identified through consultation with youth.

Transport has been identified as one of the key barriers to participation in community activities and events for young people.

It was a priority in planning the Museum After Dark program that transport was considered so all young people can have the opportunity to be involved and safely access this evening event.

Museum After Dark is proudly presented by Council and has been made possible by funding from the Office of Regional Youth.

To book your spot or for more information about the event or the free transport available,

Museum After Dark