Valerie Taylor to talk at Australian Museum's upcoming blockbuster shark exhibition

The Australian Museum’s blockbuster exhibition – Sharks – will include a series of program events including a talk by shark conservationist Valerie Taylor. The exhibition will offer visitors interactive experiences and the opportunity to explore specimens from the Australian Museum collection.   

The talk 'Capturing Sharks' by pioneering diver, conservationist and filmmaker Valerie Taylor (pictured below) will include a discussion on her life under the sea and her hopes for the future of shark conservation.

For 450 million years, sharks have dominated Earth’s oceans. Today, their existence has never been under more threat. With cultural connections reaching back countless generations, visitors will also discover how First Nations’ and Pasifika Peoples’ knowledge of sharks can help us protect them.

To accompany the exhibition, the Australian Museum is hosting a series of program events including talks, workshops and activities for visitors to further engage with the history, science, cultural connections, and the future of sharks.

The series of events features:

Sharks' Opening Weekend
Celebrate the opening of the Sharks exhibition with a weekend of free performances by the Sydney Youth Orchestra and traditional Mer (Murray) Island dances in Hintze Hall across Saturday 24th September and Sunday 25th September.

The AM’s theatre will feature free talks by shark experts during the opening weekend:

The Epic Evolution of Sharks: With skeletons made of cartilage and skin made of teeth, sharks have experienced an extraordinary journey of adaptation. Shark guru Dr Will White, senior curator of CSIRO’s Australian National Fish Collection, travels back 450 million years to discover the incredible diversity and distinct traits that have made these remarkable creatures so successful.  11.30am – 12:30pm | Saturday 24th September | Free, registration required | Ages 14+

Sharks, Kinship and Conservation: Walpiri woman and journalist Rachael Hocking along with Meriam man and Sharks contributing artist Obery Sambo present a talk to give insights into First Nations kinship and knowledge systems, and how storytelling and cultural practices play a vital role in their conservation. 11.30am – 12:30pm | Sunday 25th September | Free, registration required | Ages 14+

Twilight Bites
Twilight Bites is a monthly after-hours talk and tour series with renowned shark scientists and cultural experts. After each talk, guests are invited to explore the AM’s Sharks exhibition, where specialists in various fields of shark science will appear to answer your sharpest shark questions.

Talks include:
Capturing Sharks with Valerie Taylor: Pioneering diver, conservationist and filmmaker Valerie Taylor discusses her life under the sea and her hopes for the future of shark conservation. Wednesday 5th October | 5.30pm – 7:00pm and 7:00pm – 8:30pm | $72 Members, $90 Non-Members, $81 Concession | Ages 16+ | Includes complimentary canapés and a drink on arrival

Sharks in the Picture: Award-winning photographer and filmmaker Michaela Skovranova joins the AM’s Climate Solutions Centre curator, Dr Jenny Newell, for a discussion about bearing witness to Earth’s most magnificent environments, observing their changes and finding ways to champion their survival. Wednesday 2nd November | 5.30pm – 7:00pm and 7:00pm – 8:30pm | $72 Members, $90 Non-Members, $81 Concession | Ages 16+ | Includes complimentary canapés and a drink on arrival

Sharks, Protection and Detection: Join the AM for canapés and conversation as Principal Research Scientist with the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Dr Paul Butcher details the future of shark conservation and shares some of the science that is helping to keep sharks and swimmers separate. Wednesday 7th December | 5.30pm – 7:00pm and 7:00pm – 8:30pm | $72 Members, $90 Non-Members, $81 Concession | Ages 16+

School holidays
Each school holidays, the Australian Museum keeps curious kids entertained and inspired with a range of fun and educational activities. The spring school holiday program includes a stack of shark themed events, including:

Cool Sharks: Clay Sculpting Workshop: Crafty kids will learn all about sharks and sculpt your own out of clay in these school holiday workshops for children. Thursday 29th & Friday 30th September | 10.30 – 12.30am, 1.30 – 3.30pm | $52 per child (Members), ‎‏$65 per child (non-Members).

The Tooth About Sharks: What makes a shark, a shark? Join shark expert Dr Amy Smoothey from the NSW Department of Primary Industries to bust myths and learn the ‘tooth’ about sharks! Wednesday 5th, Thursday 6th & Friday 7th October |10.30 – 11.00am, 11.30am – 12.00pm, 1.30pm – 2.00pm | $12 (Members), ‎‏$15 (non-Members).

Nature Photography Workshops: Back by popular demand, young photography buffs can jumpstart their creativity and learn how to capture nature's best angle in these school holiday workshops guided by photographer Tom Covell. Tuesday 27th & Wednesday 28th September | 10.30 - 11.30am, 12 - 2pm, 2.30 – 4.30pm | $28 - $52 (Members) $35 - $65 (non-Members).

event details
What: Sharks Program Series
When: Saturday 24th September 2022 – Tuesday 31st January 2023
Where: Australian Museum, 1 William St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

For more information and to book tickets, visit australian.museum/exhibition/sharks

Image top: Shark Exhibition Promotion. Credit: Australian Museum; image above Valerie Taylor. Credit Shark Research Institute