The National Gallery of Australia

To complete the Gallery's building and precinct refurbishment and enhancement program to better display, maintain and protect works of art and to improve access and facilities for visitors and staff.

Key strategies

• Undertake the building and precinct refurbishment and enhancement program with regard to Gallery programs and stakeholders
• Develop and deliver a public relations and communications strategy to seek input from and to inform stakeholders about the building and precinct refurbishment and enhancement program
• Develop concepts (for further building development) to meet future requirements of the Gallery
• Secure funding for the building program beyond Stage 1

Our success will be measured by

• Improved access and facilities for visitors and staff
• Better environment to display, maintain and protect works of art
• Development of concepts to meet future requirements
• Funding secured for the building program beyond Stage 1

Our recent achievements

We have increased the level of visitor enjoyment and improved safety by refurbishing and enhancing the Gallery building.

Refurbishment work completed to date includes the building's emergency management systems and code compliance. The Gallery is now working on further improvements to infrastructure and services including upgrading the heating, ventilation and airconditioning system, fire detection and suppression systems and associated equipment, and emergency lighting and exit signage.

The 20th-year anniversary celebrations of the Gallery building generated great excitement in 2002. Former directors, Council members, staff and the community alike participated in the celebrations.

Enhancements

• Since its opening in March 1998 the exhibition wing has seen over 1.3 million people visit 23 exhibitions. The exhibition wing has proved to be an ideal venue, offering the flexibility required for staging excellent exhibitions
• Fiona Hall's Fern Garden was commissioned to open with the new exhibition wing in 1998, and now provides a celebrated vista from the exhibition wing foyer
• $42.9 million expenditure for ongoing refurbishment and enhancements of the Gallery building was approved in 2001–02
• $10.7 million has been spent to June 2004 refurbishing the building.
• Plans for an enhanced front entrance will be completed during 2004, with construction work expected to be completed in 2006