National Portrait Gallery (Australia) facts for kids
National Portrait Gallery building
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| Former name | National Library of Australia, Old Parliament House |
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| Established | May 1998 |
| Location | King Edward Terrace, Parkes, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
| Type | Portrait gallery |
| Architect | Johnson Pilton Walker |
| Public transit access | Action buses |
The National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, Australia, is a special art gallery. It shows portraits of famous Australians. A portrait is a picture or sculpture of a person. This gallery started in 1998. It moved to its current building in December 2008. It is also known as the National Portrait Gallery of Australia.
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Discovering Australian History Through Portraits
The National Portrait Gallery helps us learn about important Australians. These are people who have made a big difference in their fields. Their portraits tell stories about their lives and achievements.
How the Gallery Began
The idea for a national portrait gallery in Australia started a long time ago. In the early 1900s, a painter named Tom Roberts first suggested it. But it took many years for the idea to become real.
In 1992, an art show called Uncommon Australians helped spark the idea. This show featured many portraits. It traveled to different cities and got people excited about having a special gallery for portraits.
The gallery officially opened its collection in May 1998. Andrew Sayers was the first director. At first, the gallery was in a few rooms in Old Parliament House. It then moved to a dedicated building.
A New Home for the Portraits
As the gallery grew, it needed its own building. In 2005, money was given to build a new home for the portraits. The architectural firm Johnson Pilton Walker designed the building. Construction started in December 2006.
The new National Portrait Gallery opened to the public on December 4, 2008. It is located on King Edward Terrace in Canberra. The Prime Minister at the time, Kevin Rudd, opened the building.
The Gallery's Amazing Collection
The gallery's permanent collection has about 3000 portraits. These portraits show Australians who are important in their work. They also feature people whose lives are interesting to the public.
The collection includes many types of art. You can see photographs, paintings, drawings, and even sculptures. The gallery keeps adding new portraits. They choose new artworks carefully to make sure they fit the collection.
Exciting Art Prizes
The National Portrait Gallery hosts two big art competitions. These prizes celebrate talented Australian artists.
National Photographic Portrait Prize
The National Photographic Portrait Prize (NPPP) is an annual award. It is for Australian photographers who take amazing portraits. As of 2022, the winner receives A$30,000.
Darling Portrait Prize
The Darling Portrait Prize started in March 2020. This prize is for painted portraits. The winner gets A$75,000! It is named after L. Gordon Darling, who was a key founder of the gallery. This competition happens every two years.
Past Winners of the Darling Portrait Prize
- 2020: Anthea da Silva won for her portrait of dancer Elizabeth Cameron Dalman.
- 2022: Jaq Grantford won for her self-portrait.
The Gallery Building's Design
The building itself is a work of art! It was designed by Johnson Pilton Walker in 2005. The building is about 14,000 square meters. It has space for around 500 portraits. The galleries are designed to let in natural light.
The building's shape connects to the area around it. It has five long sections, each over 70 meters long. These sections are arranged in a special way that connects to Walter Burley Griffin’s original plans for Canberra. The building was constructed by John Holland Group.
Inside, the gallery has a series of interesting spaces. You enter through a court with two large concrete blades. Then you go through the foyer to the gallery rooms. Each gallery gets soft, natural light from windows high up on the walls. You can also see views of the outside.
In April 2019, the gallery closed for a few months for repairs. It reopened in September 2019.
How the Gallery is Run
The National Portrait Gallery of Australia is an Australian Government agency. It is managed by a special board. As of December 2022, Penny Fowler was the chair of this board.
Gallery Directors
The director is like the leader of the gallery. They help decide what art to show and how the gallery runs.
- Andrew Sayers was the first director, starting in May 1998.
- Angus Trumble was director from about 2014 until the end of 2018.
- Karen Quinlan was appointed director in December 2018. She had been a director at another art gallery for many years. She was also a professor at an art institute. Karen Quinlan was recognized for her great work in the visual arts. In August 2022, she took on a new role at Arts Centre Melbourne.
- Trent Birkett was the acting director after Karen Quinlan left.
- Bree Pickering started her five-year appointment as director in April 2023.
Special Events at the Gallery
The gallery hosts various events, including a special lecture series.
Andrew Sayers Memorial Lecture
The Andrew Sayers Memorial Lecture happens every year. It honors Andrew Sayers, the gallery's first director.
- In 2019, the lecture was given by gallery director Karen Quinlan.
- On April 27, 2023, Stephen Page gave a lecture called "Clanship." He talked about family connections and Aboriginal identity. He also discussed relationships with other Indigenous peoples.
- On July 31, 2024, writer Benjamin Law gave a lecture. He talked about modern portraits and the media.
