(L to R) Sharyne Jewell, Alyssa Kitt, Jazida, Mia Mortal and Dollar Dazzler. Photographed by Captivitae Photo.
Supporting local and supporting our history
The Australian Burlesque Museum is a not-for-profit organisation run by a team of volunteers. They are dedicated to the collection, preservation, and presentation of artefacts and ephemera relating to burlesque performance art and stripping throughout Australian history.
The Museum is PIBF 2021’s chosen charity – starting with proceeds from the PIBF Peepshow on Friday 8 October being donated directly to the museum.
Museum Secretariat Dollar Dazzler spoke to us about what’s happening for the Australian Burlesque Museum (ABM) and what’s on their dance card for PIBF and the near future:
1. How does the Australian Burlesque Museum support the Australian Burlesque community?
The ABM is passionate about supporting our national Burlesque community through the preservation of our collective stories. Over the past five years, we have been conducting a wide-scale oral history collection, with interviews with Icons of the neo-burlesque revival and earlier.
In addition to our interviews, we run predominantly as an archival space, with our physical archive now located in Canberra – we house costumes, props, printed press – newspapers, photographs, and a range of other special things!
We’re also working on the “Poster Project” – which preserves Burlesque posters over the decades so we can tell the kaleidoscope of stories that weave through all our countries’ different burlesque scenes (and maps different touring headliners from this time).
2. What it means to have the Australian Burlesque Museum as the PIBF chosen charity this year?
We’re both thrilled and honoured to be PIBF’s chosen entity for their fundraising!
We have been big supporters in the past of the festival, both our Co-Directors, Alyssa Kit & Jazida, Founding Director Bella De Jac, and outgoing curator for research, Lola the Vamp, all being past headliners of the festival.
To have the festival’s support of our projects and mission will allow us to broaden our capacity to extend our archive for the community.
(L to R) Museum Co-Directors Jazida and Alyssa Kitt and Secretariat Dollar Dazzler. Photographed by Captivitae Photo.
3. How will this funding help the Australian Burlesque Museum? Any upcoming projects you would like to share?
We’re working on partnerships with Burlesque Schools around Australia, mentoring programs with Icons and Volunteers, and of course, preserving our collection in secure storage.
These funds will go towards the care of the physical pieces and assist in digitizing the collection so we can share these stories with everyone!
4. What are you looking forward to at PIBF this year?
Every year PIBF has always showcased local performers who are doing something different and unique in our community. It gives us a chance to celebrate what we have made and highlights the hard work and talent we have in the community!
Perth is proud of its diversity in Burlesque and the Cabaret arts and is proud of their place within the greater Australian Burlesque community. We can’t wait to see what this year brings again!
You can support the museum by making a donation or by buying a ticket to the PIBF Peepshow