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 (often called NPGA) is a special art gallery in Canberra, Australia. It's a place where you can see portraits of famous Australians. The gallery first opened in 1998. In December 2008, it moved into its amazing new building on King Edward Terrace.
Contents
The Story of the National Portrait Gallery
The idea for a national portrait gallery in Australia started a long time ago. In the early 1900s, a famous painter named Tom Roberts first suggested it. But it took many years for the idea to really begin.
In 1992, a special art show called Uncommon Australians helped make the idea real. This show was created by Gordon and Marilyn Darling, who were big supporters of the gallery from the start. It was shown in Canberra and other cities, making people excited about a national portrait gallery.
In 1994, the gallery's first exhibition opened. It was held in Old Parliament House and managed by the National Library of Australia. Four years later, in 1998, the National Portrait Gallery officially became its own institution. Andrew Sayers was chosen as its first Director. This meant it had its own team, money, and goal to collect portraits.
The gallery's collection started in May 1998. Until 2008, the portraits were shown in Old Parliament House. They were also displayed in another gallery nearby on Commonwealth Place. In 1999, more displays opened in Old Parliament House. This showed that the gallery was now an important, independent place.
As the gallery became more popular and its collection grew, it needed its own building. The Australian government provided A$87 million for the new building in 2005. A company called Johnson Pilton Walker designed the gallery. Construction began in December 2006. The new National Portrait Gallery opened to the public on December 4, 2008. It is located on King Edward Terrace, next to the High Court of Australia. The Prime Minister at the time, Kevin Rudd, opened it.
What You'll See: The Permanent Collection
The National Portrait Gallery shows portraits of important Australians. These are people who are famous in their field. They might be known for their work, or their lives might be very interesting to the public.
In 2020, the gallery had about 3,000 portraits. These artworks are made in many different ways. You can see photographs, paintings, drawings, videos, sculptures, and even textile art. The gallery keeps adding to its collection. It buys new artworks and asks artists to create new portraits.
Exciting Art Prizes
The gallery hosts two special art competitions. They are called the "National Portrait Prizes."
National Photographic Portrait Prize
The National Photographic Portrait Prize (NPPP) is an award for Australian photographers. It happens every year. As of 2022, the winner receives A$30,000.
Darling Portrait Prize
The Darling Portrait Prize is for painted portraits. It started in March 2020. The winner gets A$75,000! This prize honors L. Gordon Darling, who was a key founder of the gallery. This competition happens every two years.
- Winners
- 2020: Anthea da Silva, for her portrait of dancer Elizabeth Cameron Dalman
- 2022: Jaq Grantford, for her self-portrait
Exploring the Gallery Building
The building was designed by Johnson Pilton Walker in 2005. It is 14,000 square meters in size. It has space for about 500 portraits. The galleries are designed to let in natural light.
The building's shape fits well with its surroundings. It connects with important views and lines around the area. It has five long sections, each over 70 meters long. These sections are arranged to match Walter Burley Griffin’s original plans for Canberra.
The National Portrait Gallery has a special path for visitors. You enter through the Entrance Court, which has two large concrete blades on the eastern side. Then you go through the foyer to the amazing gallery spaces. Each gallery gets controlled 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. This was to fix some parts of the building. The gallery reopened in September 2019.
How the Gallery is Managed
The National Portrait Gallery is an agency of the Australian Government. It is managed by the Board of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia (NGPA). As of December 2022, Penny Fowler is the chairperson of the board.
Karen Quinlan AM became the director in December 2018. Before this, she was the director of Bendigo Art Gallery for 18 years. She was also a professor at the La Trobe Art Institute. Karen Quinlan was recognized for her great work in art and education. In August 2022, she became the chief executive of Arts Centre Melbourne. Trent Birkett was the acting director for a short time. Then, Bree Pickering started a five-year term as director in April 2023.
