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In a major coup for Victoria, Frontier Events, Premier Exhibitions, Inc., Museum Victoria and the Victorian State Government have announced the exclusive presentation of Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition at Melbourne Museum from 14th May to 17th October 2010.

On 15th April, 1912, Titanic, the world’s largest ship, sank after colliding with an iceberg, claiming more than 1,500 lives and shaking the world’s confidence in the infallibility of modern technology. Almost 100 years later, Melbourne Museum will pay tribute to the tragedy in Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition, which showcases more than 280 artefacts retrieved from the Titanic’s debris field, offering visitors a poignant look at this legendary ship and its passengers and crew.

The exhibition has been created with a focus on the Titanic’s compelling human stories, told through authentic artefacts and exacting re-creations of the ship’s interior. Delicate bottles of perfume, china bearing the logo of the elite White Star Line, even a piece of the hull of the Titanic - these and many other objects collected from the wreck site offer poignant connections to lives abruptly ended or forever changed by one of the world’s greatest maritime disasters.

As they enter the exhibition, each visitor is presented with a replica boarding pass of an actual passenger, drawing them back in time to 1912 and the ship’s fateful maiden voyage. Then begins a journey through the life of the Titanic, from construction to life on board, to its ill-fated voyage, tragic sinking and the amazing efforts to recover artefacts. Along the way visitors will marvel at the full-size recreation of the ship’s Grand Staircase, learn countless stories of heroism and humanity and even press their palms against an “iceberg”.

The exhibition also tells the Titanic’s Australian stories, and how its sinking strongly resonated with communities here. In the ‘Memorial Gallery’, guests will be able to take their boarding pass to the memorial wall and discover whether their passenger and travelling companions survived or perished.

Cheryl Mure, Vice President of RMS Titanic, Inc. explains “with more than 22 million visitors to date, we consistently see how Titanic resonates and touches everyone.

”Each of us can relate to someone on Titanic and the retelling of her story feeds our curiosity time and again.”

Over the past 19 years, this powerful exhibition has appeared in major museums worldwide - from Chicago to Los Angeles and Paris to London. RMS Titanic, Inc. is the only company permitted by law to recover objects from the wreck of the Titanic. The Company was granted Salvor-in-Possession rights to the wreck site of Titanic by a United States federal court in 1994 and has conducted seven research and recovery expeditions to the Titanic rescuing more than 5,500 artefacts.

Melbourne Museum, which had such an outstanding success in 2009 with ‘A Day in Pompeii’, is collaborating with Frontier Events to host Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition.

Victorian Premier John Brumby explained “this is a true blockbuster exhibition which has taken the world by storm, and we are delighted to be partnering with Michael Gudinski, Museum Victoria and Premier Exhibitions USA to bring Titanic exclusively to Melbourne.

“Exhibitions such as this and A Day in Pompeii, hosted by Melbourne Museum last year, have cemented Melbourne’s place as the cultural capital of Australia, and the number one destination for short breaks and cultural tourism.

Michael Gudinski, Managing Director of Frontier Events added “Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition is an incomparable insight into the grandeur, romance and the tragedy of the Titanic and her passengers and crew. I’m honoured that this will be the first major exhibition project for Frontier Events and that we’re a part in bringing it to Australia for the very first time.”

Frontier Events is a new division of The Frontier Touring Company, Australia’s leading concert promoter. Frontier Events manages and organises entertainment for government, global corporations and major international sporting events. Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition will be the first major exhibition presented by Frontier Events.

RMS Titanic, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Premier Exhibitions, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRXI), a major provider of museum-quality touring exhibitions throughout the world and the creators of Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition.

As the recognised leader in developing and deploying unique exhibition products, the Company’s exhibitions contain authentic artifacts presented in stunning environments while telling compelling stories. The Company was granted, and continues to maintain, Salvor-in-Possession rights to the wreck of the Titanic.

For more information go to www.titanicmelbourne.com

27th October 2009 - A DAY IN POMPEII - AUSTRALIA’S MOST POPULAR MUSEUM EXHIBITION

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