Visitors to the National Museum of Australia will soon be astonished to find a large halfpipe “wave” in the Gandel Atrium.

It’s all part of Night at the Museum: Play, an evening of fun for 18+ Canberrans.

In the fledgling days of the NMA, conservative museum councillors were scandalised by a decision to stage a youth night with pop music, young curators and, generally, a bit of fun.

“Not appropriate for a national institution,” they roared, and the idea was shelved.

It’s different now. Fast forward to the 21st-century and the museum regularly takes audacious leaps into youth and alternative cultures in nocturnal ventures such as Night at the Museum: Queer in February.

Night at the Museum: Play invites youth to immerse themselves in BMX demos, skate stunts, mechanical surf waves, ’90s mega mixes, street basketball, acrobatics, breaking, pop-up video game arcades, board games and LED fire twirling.

DJ Aria will perform, but the highlight of the evening will be a 50-minute set from Australia’s top Aussie female DJ Tigerlily, (Dara Kristen Hayes) just back from a world tour.

Night at the Museum, National Museum of Australia, August 30.