What will be inside $10m Egyptian experience at Cairns Aquarium
A “world-class” exhibition complete with 450 items handmade by the Egyptian government’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities will open in Cairns next month. SNEAK PEEK
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An Egyptian exhibition opening soon in Cairns is collaborating with multiple local businesses as well as the Egyptian government to bring the $10m experience to life.
The ‘Tomb of the Pharaoh’s’ exhibit, opening in June, will recreate 11 of the most famous tombs from Egypt, and more than 40 local businesses have been involved in its development, providing millions of dollars to the local economy according to its founder.
Signwriting company Inspired Signs were tasked with producing hundreds of metres of printed hieroglyphs to cover the walls and ceilings of each room, as well as 330 educational signs that will be placed throughout.
“It’s great that this can stay local,” Inspired Signs managing director Adam Simes said.
“It’s keeping a lot of people employed, lots of work and it’s a great sort of boost for our business.
“The fact that the content of the signage contains ancient Egyptian imagery and archaeological iconography makes it even more interesting for the team to work with.”
The exhibition’s chief executive and founder, Daniel Leipnik, said keeping production local was a priority.
“Every contract awarded locally benefits the wider community, not only with employment creation, jobs retention and skills growth but it also ensures these firms can continue to invest in the latest technologies and grow their businesses,” he said.
Mr Leipnik said the hieroglyphs were produced by taking photographs of each of the actual tombs in Egypt, which were then distributed to multiple graphic design companies who pieced them together.
“Then those files get sent to Inspired Signs, who rearrange them into print ready format,” he said.
“Then their skilled technicians actually come to site and install the self-adhesive vinyl onto the walls and ceilings.”
Mr Simes said it took around five to six minutes to print one metre of the hieroglyphs and 3-4 staff are working on the project each day, which begun in January.
The experience is also being produced in collaboration with the Egyptian government’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, who are handmaking 450 items for the exhibition.
“There is a specific labour force of 650 people in Egypt, and they have spent the last ten and a half months recreating all of the artefacts that are going to be in this exhibition,” Mr Leipnik said.
“Every single item has got a certificate from the Egyptian government of their handmade nature in Egypt, and they’re all made in the ancient technique of manufacturing – either carving stone or applying gold leaf to the items,” he said.
Mr Leipnik said he created the exhibition to both boost tourism and provide a new and exciting experience for Cairns residents.
“Egypt for a lot of people can be out of their range, whether it be price, whether it be difficulty in getting there, or the perceived safety and security risks,” Mr Leipnik said.
“So we really are bringing an incredible experience of ancient Egypt right into the heart of Cairns.
“The whole basis of creating something that’s world class and exciting like this is that we can actually attract more people to come to Cairns, have them stay longer and have them spend more,” he said.
The exhibition, which cost $10m and has taken one and a half years to produce, will open on June 28.
Tickets are on sale now, here.
More Coverage
Originally published as What will be inside $10m Egyptian experience at Cairns Aquarium
Every election promise: Experts analyse seat of Leichhardt
Leichhardt candidates put infrastructure and health at the forefront of their election pledges but political analysts say it won’t be enough to sway the undecided voter.
‘People need this’: Stakeholders plea for cancer centre funding
Stakeholders have issued an urgent plea to Leichhardt candidates to commit to funding a Cairns cancer centre ahead of the federal election on Saturday.