Art Gallery of New South Wales Annual Report 2018–19

Aug 30, 2026

Annual Report 2018–19 for the Art Gallery of New South Wales presents key achievements and performance outcomes across visitorship, volunteering, education and public programming, and major initiatives such as ARTEXPRESS and Archibald Prize participation. The report outlines strategic direction through endorsed long-term planning, highlights governance and executive leadership, and details major investment results including the value of the art collection, acquisitions, purchases, sponsorship, and overall revenue and funding commitments. It also addresses progress toward expanding facilities and strengthening access and cultural impact.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatDOCX

Pages149

Reading Time52 min

AccessFree to download

Highlights

President’s foreword

Director’s statement

Strategic goal 1: Campus

Strategic goal 2: Art

Strategic goal 3: Audience

Strategic goal 4: Strength

Strategic goal 5: People

Financial Reports

General access

Art Gallery of New South WalesAnnual Report 2018–19 TOC \o "1-2" \h \z \u HYPERLINK \l "_Toc30062812" Highlights PAGEREF _Toc30062812 \h 3 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc30062813" President’s foreword PAGEREF _Toc30062813 \h 4 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc30062814" Director’s statement PAGEREF _Toc30062814 \h 8 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc30062815" Strategic goal 1: Campus PAGEREF _Toc30062815 \h 13 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc30062816" Strategic goal 2: Art PAGEREF _Toc30062816 \h 14 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc30062817" Strategic goal 3: Audience PAGEREF _Toc30062817 \h 79 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc30062818" Strategic goal 4: Strength PAGEREF _Toc30062818 \h 92 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc30062819" Strategic goal 5: People PAGEREF _Toc30062819 \h 110 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc30062820" Financial Reports PAGEREF _Toc30062820 \h 136 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc30062821" General access PAGEREF _Toc30062821 \h 147 The Gadigal people of the Eora nation are the traditional custodians of the land on which the Art Gallery of New South Wales is located. © Art Gallery of New South Wales Art Gallery of New South Wales ABN 24 934 492 575. Entity name: The Trustee for Art Gallery of NSW Trust. The Art Gallery of New South Wales is a statutory body established under the Art Gallery of New South Wales Act 1980 and, from 15 March 2017 to 30 June 2019, an executive agency related to the Department of Planning and Environment. The Hon Don Harwin MLCMinister for the ArtsParliament of New South WalesMacquarie StreetSYDNEY NSW 2000 Dear Minister, It is our pleasure to forward to you for presentation to the NSW Parliament the Annual Report for the Art Gallery of New South Wales for the year ended 30 June 2019. This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Annual Report (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984 and the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Regulations 2010. Yours sincerely, Mr David Gonski ACPresident, Art Gallery of New South Wales Trust Dr Michael BrandDirector, Art Gallery of New South Wales 12 October 2019 Highlights 1.5 million visitors came to the Gallery, Brett Whiteley Studio and attended our touring exhibitions 247 volunteer guides and Task Force members 24,262 volunteer hours 61,669 ARTEXPRESS 2019 attendees 298,794 visitors attended our public and education programs: 90,767 students and teachers participated in education programs; 59,258 visitors engaged with family experiences; 43,312 people participated in other public programs; 67,180 visitors attended a guided tour; 38,277 film program attendees; 57,650 Art After Hours attendees 61% of education program participants were from Western Sydney and regional NSW 21% growth YouTube subscribers 26% growth Instagram followers 6% growth Facebook fans $1.407 billion total value of art collection 730 artworks acquired $12.3 million worth of artworks purchased and gifted to collection 35,198 artworks in collection 919 Archibald Prize entries in 2019 – an all-time record $5.683 million cash sponsorship $2.024 million in-kind support $200,000 plus to Australian artists in art prizes (2019) $116.1 million total Gallery revenue, including NSW Government’s recurrent contribution of $25.4 million $103.5 million pledged to Sydney Modern Project Capital Campaign President’s foreword As we look forward to construction commencing on the new building, the reimagining of our art museum must be underpinned by a strategic framework that provides structure to our imaginings and insists on excellence in all we do. This year, the Board of Trustees endorsed and adopted the Strategic Plan 2023, which supports the Gallery’s continued transformation and expansion, not only in our physical premises but in how we consider, present and interpret art. The Plan sets a path for us to continue to go beyond ‘business as usual’ and to meet the commitments and aspirations of the new building. This includes almost doubling space for the display and enjoyment of art, a significant expansion o

FAQs

What were the key visitor and program highlights in 2018–19?

The report highlights 1.5 million visitors and participation across public and education programs, including students and teachers, family experiences, guided tours, and film and evening program audiences.

What governance and planning direction does the President describe?

The President notes endorsement and adoption of the Strategic Plan 2023, aimed at transforming and expanding the Gallery’s physical premises and strengthening how art is considered, presented, and interpreted.

How does the report account for collection growth and financial support?

It summarizes collection value and acquisitions, purchases and gifts to the collection, sponsorship and in-kind support, and overall Gallery revenue alongside funding commitments tied to the NSW Government and related campaigns.

Aug 30, 2026

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