PNG museum re-opens after major refurbishment

12:32 pm on 6 December 2018

Papua New Guinea's only museum, which was facing possible closure, has been re-opened after a major refurbishment.

PNG National Museum and Art Gallery

Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Melvin Levongo

The PNG National Museum and Art Gallery was an independence gift from Australia 43 years ago, but it had become rundown through lack of support from the government.

Museum spokesperson Tamzin Wardley said the institution is a very active entity with staff working to preserve PNG's historical heritage.

She said the renovation programme was made possible by a further gift from Australia at the country's 40th anniversary in 2015 and the work has been underway since.

Ms Wardley said there are now five new exhibition spaces.

"All the galleries have been renamed after very important people who represent different elements of society here in PNG. The exhibitions cover a whole raft of different collections that the museum has. The museum has over 30,000 objects in storage and there's about 500 of them on display in the new exhibition spaces."