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About Us

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  • Action plans

Art gives us meaning. It tells the stories of where we have come from and imagines possible futures. Art matters.

Welcome to the National Gallery, Australia’s national visual arts institution dedicated to collecting, sharing and celebrating art from Australia and the world.

Home to the most valuable collection of art in Australia, the national collection comprises over 155,000 works of art, including the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Our significant collection represents the whole of Australian art, modern art worldwide, particularly from Europe and America, and art from across Asia and the Pacific. The collection includes some of the finest examples in Australia of French Impressionism, Dada and Surrealism, the Russian avant-garde, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Minimalism and Conceptual Art.

Our aim is to inspire all Australians. Central to our vision is elevating women artists and First Nations culture. Expansive collection displays are accompanied by a dynamic program of exhibitions, national tours and cultural events that celebrate creative practice and deepen lifelong learning, in person and online.

Based in the nation’s capital, the Gallery sits on the southern shore of Lake Burley Griffin, on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, and within Canberra’s Parliamentary Triangle. Our heritage listed building, designed by award winning architect Colin Madigan AO, is a beacon of experimental design and exemplary Brutalist architecture.

Admission to the Gallery, including the Sculpture Garden planted with native flora and James Turrell’s Skyspace, is free and accessible. Fees may apply for special exhibitions.

Art is for all of us. It allows us to see the world in ways that expand our minds, provoke our ideas, ignite our imaginations. At the National Gallery we strive for cultural experiences that surprise, that disrupt convention, that deepen our understanding of the human condition and the world we live in.

We believe that art can change lives.

  • Contacts

    A list of key and general staff contacts across the Gallery.

  • Venue Hire

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    Our unique venues cater to events of all sizes and styles – weddings, gala dinners, cocktail parties, conferences, workshops, and private functions.

  • Media

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    The National Gallery's Media Centre brings together the latest news, listings alerts, invitations and more.

  • Jobs

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    We are a dynamic and rewarding workplace, offering a wide range of roles for people from all different backgrounds.

  • Feedback

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    We value all feedback and are working constantly to improve our services.

  • Governance

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    Find information about our governance, including annual reports and legislation.

  • Governance

    Council & Foundation

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    View the National Gallery's Council and Foundation Board members.

  • Policies & Plans

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    The functions, policies and plans of the National Gallery, the Commonwealth of Australia's national cultural institution for the visual arts.

Action Plans


  • Environmental Sustainability Action Plan

    Paul House's hand is next to a divot in a stone that he is using to demonstrate ancestral stones

    The National Gallery is focusing its efforts to achieve a more sustainable environmental footprint and responsible waste management practices.

  • Disability Inclusion

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    The National Gallery’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan is central to our vision to create accessible art experiences for all.

  • Gender Equity

    The National Gallery’s commitment to gender equity is core to the vision of the Gallery to inspire our nation through creativity, inclusivity, engagement and learning.


The Building

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Institutional Archive

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Related


Learning

National Visual Art Education Conference Schedule

The 2022 National Visual Art Education Conference presents a program of active and activating learning experiences that challenge and empower.

Conference

National Visual Art Education Conference

Past Event
Hetti Perkins stands in front of two artworks.

Thu 21 – Sat 23 April 2022
James Fairfax Theatre / Online
Bookings essential

The National Visual Art Education Conference is Australia’s only national education conference dedicated to visual art.

Wheelchair Accessible Auslan Interpretation Open Captioning

Visit

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The National Gallery is open from 10am to 5pm daily (closed Christmas Day). Free entry ticket is required.

Planning your library visit

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The Research Library and Archives reading room is open by appointment Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 4.30 pm. Closed public holidays.

Conference

National Visual Art Education Conference

a speaker delivers a talk in a gallery space to a group of people sitting and standing

The National Visual Art Education Conference is Australia’s only national education conference dedicated to visual art.

Wheelchair Accessible Auslan Interpretation Open Captioning
Kids & Families

Visiting with Kids

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What to do and know when visiting the Gallery with kids.

Yuuma, Gurruburri

The National Gallery acknowledges the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the Kamberri/Canberra region, and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community and Country.

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Connect

+61 2 6240 6411
information@nga.gov.au
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Open every day

(except Christmas day)
10am – 5pm

Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country
Parkes Place East, Parkes ACT 2600

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Opening Acknowledgment of Country

The National Gallery acknowledges the First Peoples of this land and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community and Country

Learn More
Aerial view of artist Lola Greeno walking along Rocky Beach
Aerial view of artist Lola Greeno walking along Rocky Beach
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