Senator the Hon. George Brandis S.C.

Minister for the Arts and Sport

8 May 2007

The Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator George Brandis, today announced

$21.2 million in new funding for the National Portrait Gallery to develop new services, enhance its exhibition and education programmes for visitors and assist with the cost of commissioning its new premises, due to open in December 2008.

“Through portraiture, the National Portrait Gallery builds awareness among both Australians and overseas visitors of the people who have contributed to the richness and variety of Australian life, in the past and the present,” Senator Brandis said. “The new National Portrait Gallery, currently under construction in the Parliamentary Triangle, will be one of the great public buildings of Australia.”

“Through almost $90 million in Australian Government funding, new purpose-built premises for the National Portrait Gallery are being constructed in Canberra’s Parliamentary precinct. In its new location, the Gallery will have four times its current space in Old Parliament House.

• “This additional $21.2 million in funding over three years will expand the Gallery’s collection displays, deliver a diverse and innovative range of education and art programmes, and provide for all of the support services required for the Gallery to operate in the new premises.

“The Gallery has long been a major drawcard for tourists and school groups, but it is not always practical for individuals or groups to make the trip to Canberra.

This funding will enable the Gallery to reach a wider audience throughout Australia through annual touring exhibitions to rural and regional parts of Australia, as well as the capital cities.

“The additional funding will also provide for a vibrant virtual Gallery on the internet making the Gallery’s holdings more accessible to all Australians,” Senator Brandis said.

Media contact: Travis Bell 0448 950 248

Supporting Information

$21.2 million to support our new National Portrait Gallery

Why is this important?

• The purpose-built building for the National Portrait Gallery, currently under construction in the Parliamentary Triangle, will open to the public in late 2008.
• The additional $21.2 million over three years will allow the National Portrait Gallery, in its new dedicated home, to provide a full program of exhibitions and educational activities to Gallery visitors.
• The funding will also cover the costs for the efficient operation and security of the building and the collection of portraits and the safety of the public.
• The new National Portrait Gallery will have gallery space to mount a permanent display of 500 portraits, temporary gallery spaces in which to mount exhibitions of portraits from around the world, dedicated education areas, a shop, a café and appropriate provision for storage of the collection. This new funding will allow public expectations to be met following the opening of the new building and into the future.

Who will benefit?

• The Australian public. This funding will enable the National Portrait Gallery to offer a fully informative and enjoyable experience to general visitors, and primary, secondary and tertiary educational groups.
• The funding will also allow the National Portrait Gallery to mount travelling exhibitions and to deliver information through new technological platforms and online.

What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?

• $21.2 million over three years commencing in 2008-09. This is in addition to ongoing operational funding of $3.9 million per annum from 2008-09 which was committed in December 2004.

What have we done in the past?

• Since 1994, the National Portrait Gallery has mounted programs of exhibitions and has developed a display within Old Parliament House. In 1997, the Australian Government committed to an expansion of the National Portrait Gallery within Old Parliament House, but the Gallery rapidly outgrew the spaces available. The Government’s commitment in December 2004 to fund a dedicated National Portrait Gallery building will allow for a four-fold increase in exhibition space and the facilities to reach a wider audience throughout Australia.
• In addition, the Government has provided $4.3 million since 2004-05 towards the National Portrait Gallery’s programs and $3.9 million will be provided in 2008-09.

When will the initiative conclude?

• Construction of the National Portrait Gallery building is scheduled to be completed by late 2008.
• The additional funding of $21.2 million over three years will be provided on an ongoing basis.