Behind the Lines -
are we rolling?

17 september 2026 -
13 november 2026

You’ve seen the trailers, the lights dim as you reach for a handful of popcorn, and the opening credits to Behind the Lines 2025: Are We Rolling? begin to appear. This year’s exhibition is a tragedy, a drama and a comedy all in one: a tragi-dramedy?

The cinema, and Hollywood in particular, has often been called a ‘Dream Factory’, offering escapism from the humdrum of our daily lives, through aspirational or larger-than-life characters and fantastical plotlines.

2025 has flipped the script. A dream for some, and a nightmare for others – the year’s political events in Australia and abroad were chockfull of villains and heroes, disasters and soaring triumphs. Who needs Hollywood?

Featuring established and emerging cartoonists from across Australia, the Behind the Lines exhibition highlights the significant contribution they make to cultural and political debates through witty, insightful and often poignant satirical drawings, paintings, GIFs and sculptures.

Behind the Lines is a travelling exhibition developed by the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, proudly supported by the National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach Program, an Australian Government program aiming to improve access to the national collections for all Australians.