WA Museum to create an exhibition on the life of Heath Ledger

The Western Australian Museum has partnered with the family of Perth-born film and television star Heath Ledger to create a world-class exhibition about his life.

Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said the exhibition was in the early planning stages and the museum was working closely with Heath Ledger's father Kim Ledger regarding content.

"The exhibition is planned to open in 2012 and the family has already provided significant major exhibits, such as the costume the Academy Award-winning actor wore portraying the Joker in The Dark Knight," Mr Day said.

"It will also include memorabilia from less well-known areas of the life of one of Western Australia's most famous sons.

"As well as the stories from his youth and early career, the exhibition will document his aspirations as a director, his talented work creating music videos and his formidable abilities as a chess player and photographer.

"It will also provide an insight into the scope of Heath's interests and achievements outside his film career."

Kim Ledger said the family would provide the Oscar awarded to his son in 2009 for his The Dark Knight role and the diary he kept as he developed the character of the Joker.

"We are extremely pleased to work with the wonderful staff at the WA Museum with a view to both preserving and providing historical personal information, objects of interest and movie paraphernalia for a display which will attract both local interest and visitors to WA, from interstate and overseas," Mr Ledger said.

In addition, the Art Gallery of NSW has pledged to loan the museum the painting, Heath, by Melbourne-based artist Vincent Fantauzzo.

Ledger starred in a number of box office successes including 10 Things I Hate About You; The Patriot; Monster's Ball; A Knight's Tale and Brokeback Mountain, all of which will feature in the exhibition.