The National Museum of Australia has announced its ambitious 2025 exhibition program, featuring two major cultural showcases that promise to captivate visitors with both nostalgic Australian television history and contemporary Korean cultural phenomena. The museum will present a beloved children's television retrospective followed by an immersive exploration of Korea's global cultural influence.
The exhibition season begins with "Mr Squiggle and Friends: The Creative World of Norman Hetherington," running from July 4 through October 13, 2025. This nostalgic winter showcase celebrates the iconic Australian Broadcasting Corporation children's program by bringing beloved characters to life through an extensive collection of original materials. The exhibition features over 800 items drawn from the Norman Hetherington collection, including authentic puppets, original scripts, production props, and character costumes that defined generations of Australian childhood entertainment.
The Mr Squiggle exhibition will showcase fan-favorite characters including the titular Mr Squiggle, along with Blackboard, Rocket, Bill Steamshovel, and Gus the Snail. Museum officials have designed the free exhibition to evoke childhood memories among adult visitors while simultaneously inspiring creativity and imagination across multiple generations. The comprehensive display offers visitors an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the creative process and production elements that made the show a lasting cultural touchstone.
Following the conclusion of the Mr Squiggle exhibition, the museum will transition into "Hallyu! The Korean Wave," scheduled to run from December 12, 2025, through May 10, 2026. This summer extravaganza represents a significant cultural undertaking, originally developed by the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The exhibition encompasses 250 carefully curated objects that span the full spectrum of Korean cultural exports, from K-pop music and Korean dramas to fashion trends and cinematic achievements.
The Korean Wave exhibition will feature artifacts and memorabilia connected to globally recognized Korean cultural phenomena, including materials related to the Academy Award-winning film "Parasite," the internationally acclaimed Netflix series "Squid Game," and PSY's viral sensation "Gangnam Style." Beyond static displays, the exhibition promises a comprehensive cultural immersion experience through a full program of live music performances, traditional and contemporary dance presentations, authentic Korean cuisine offerings, and film screenings that will allow visitors to experience the depth and breadth of contemporary Korean culture.
National Museum of Australia Director Katherine McMahon characterized the Korean exhibition as a "K-Museum takeover," emphasizing the rare opportunity it provides for Australian audiences to experience firsthand the power, creativity, and global influence of the Korean cultural movement. McMahon highlighted the exhibition's significance in offering visitors insight into how Korean culture has transcended geographical boundaries to become a dominant force in international entertainment and lifestyle trends.
The back-to-back exhibitions represent the National Museum of Australia's commitment to presenting both cherished local cultural heritage and significant international cultural movements, providing visitors with diverse opportunities to explore creativity, nostalgia, and contemporary global phenomena throughout 2025 and early 2026.
