Through our strategic ambitions of curiosity, creativity, collaboration and sustainability, the Powerhouse is committed to advancing knowledge through research. Our evolving collection and programme are key to the ways in which we inspire and foster scholarly inquiry, sharing new knowledge we generate with the public.
The Powerhouse is committed to building a vibrant and supportive research culture enabling our researchers to partner with those in cultural and academic institutions to develop innovative approaches to researching material culture and the museum context.
Research Projects
The Powerhouse is involved in funded research projects with different partners in line with our Research Strategy and overall vision.
Find out more about our current partnerships.
Research Staff
The Powerhouse staff are involved in research that covers the breadth of our extraordinary collection, curatorial practice, education and public programming, conservation, and museum practice. Each of these areas may involve research into digital and media-related aspects of material culture and the museum context. We actively publish our research in a wide variety of publications, conferences and other forums.
Find out more about our research staff.
Research fellowship program
Our Visiting Research Fellowship Program is targeted at established researchers such as university academics and independent scholars.
The program provides a supportive environment for researchers to undertake research related to the museum’s collection, education, conservation and museum practice.
Find out more about resources, eligibility and the application process.
Visiting Research fellows
The fellowships enable researchers to access the museum’s resources for a short period of time to support their research.
Find out more about our current research fellows and the incredible projects they’re collaborating with us on.
Research Policy Framework
Guided by our Research Policy Framework, we will play a key role in identifying areas of future research and investigation to enable us to continue undertaking a rigorous program of interdisciplinary research across applied arts and sciences.
View our Research Strategy and Code of Good practice in research.
Research Library
The Powerhouse Research Library is a reference library supporting the exhibitions, publications and programs of the museum.
Online Collection
The Powerhouse Collection Relocation and Digitisation Project is one of the largest digitisation projects in Australia which will digitally capture approximately 338,000 items from the museum’s collection.
Explore the online collection.