Annual Report 2018–19 The Art Gallery of New South Wales ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES ANNUAL REPORT 2018–19 2 ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES ANNUAL REPORT 2018–19 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. The Hon Don Harwin MLC Minister for the Arts Parliament of New South Wales Macquarie Street SYDNEY 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 AC Dr Michael Brand President Director Art Gallery of New South Wales Trust Art Gallery of New South Wales 12 October 2019 Contents 8 PRESIDENT’S FOREWORD 10 DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT 14 STRATEGIC GOAL 1: CAMPUS 16 STRATEGIC GOAL 2: ART 50 STRATEGIC GOAL 3: AUDIENCE 58 STRATEGIC GOAL 4: STRENGTH 68 STRATEGIC GOAL 5: PEOPLE 91 FINANCIAL REPORTS © Art Gallery of New South Wales Compiled by Emily Crocker Designed by Trudi Fletcher Edited by Lisa Girault 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 COVER: Grace Cossington Smith, The window 1956, Gallery of New South Wales Act 1980 and, oil on hardboard, 121.9 x 91.5 cm, Art Gallery of from 15 March 2017 to 30 June 2019, an New South Wales, gift of Graham and Judy Martin 2014, executive agency related to the Department assisted by the Australian Masterpiece Fund © Estate of of Planning and Environment. Grace Cossington Smith, Photo: AGNSW ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES ANNUAL REPORT 2018–19 6 Highlights 1.5 million 298 794 61% of education program visitors visitors participants were from came to the Gallery, attended our public and Western Sydney and Brett Whiteley Studio education programs regional NSW and attended our touring exhibitions – 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 247 – 38 277 film program 21% growth volunteer attendees YouTube subscribers guides and Task Force members 26% growth Instagram followers 24 262 volunteer hours 6% growth Facebook fans 57 650 Art After Hours 61 669 attendees ARTEXPRESS 2019 attendees 7 $1.407 $5.683 $116.1 billion million million total value of art collection cash sponsorship total Gallery revenue, including NSW Government’s recurrent contribution 730 artworks of $25.4 million acquired $2.024 million in-kind support $12.3 million worth of artworks purchased and gifted to collection $103.5 35 198 million pledged to Sydney Modern artworks Project Capital Campaign in collection $200 000+ to Australian artists in art prizes 919 (2019) Archibald Prize entries in 2019 – an all-time record ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES ANNUAL REPORT 2018–19 8 President’s foreword As we look forward to construction Beyond the success of the Capital Presenting sponsor EY and principal commencing on the new building, the Campaign, the Gallery is fortunate donor Singapore Airlines enabled reimagining of our art museum must to enjoy a strong network of further the Gallery to bring artworks from be underpinned by a strategic supporters. The generosity of the Art St Petersburg to Sydney for the major framework that provides structure Gallery of New South Wales Foundation summer exhibition Masters of modern to our imaginings and insists on and other benefactors enables us to art from the Hermitage. excellence in all we do. grow our collection, while our corporate partners and sponsors make it possible We are also most appreciative of our This year, the Board of Trustees for people from all walks of life to better major partners Clemenger BBDO, endorsed and adopted the Strategic access, experience and appreciate art. Robert Oatley Wines, Sofitel Sydney Plan 2023, which supports the Wentworth and the Woolmark Gallery’s continued transformation Now in its ninth year, the Sydney Company, as well as our support and expansion, not only in our physical International Art Series represents partners Crestone, Glenfiddich and premises but in how we consider, a rewarding partnership with Hendrick’s Gin, Paspaley Pearls and present and interpret art. The Plan Destination NSW which this year saw Porter’s Original Paints. Thanks also sets a path for us to continue to go us showcasing modern masterpieces to the City of Sydney and media beyond ‘business as usual’ and to from The State Hermitage Museum in partners The Sydney Morning Herald meet the commitments and aspirations St Petersburg. and JCDecaux. of the new building. This includes almost doubling space for the display I note with appreciation the support The ongoing support of the President’s and enjoyment of art, a significant during the year of our leadership Council and VisAsia Council in 2018–19 expansion of educational and public partners ANZ and Macquarie enabled us to stage two unique and programming, and an expected University. Their investment with the important exhibitions, respectively increase in Gallery visitation to two Gallery has ranged from sponsorship John Russell: Australia’s French million people a year. of major exhibitions including the impressionist and Heaven and earth Archibald, Wynne and Sulman prizes, in Chinese art: treasures from the In striving for these goals, our biggest John Russell: Australia’s French National Palace Museum, Taipei. We supporter is of course the NSW impressionist; and The essential also continue to provide access to Government, which has made an Duchamp, to innovative investments the arts in Western Sydney through unprecedented investment in our in young emerging artists through Art Pathways, thanks to the major state art museum through the new ARTEXPRESS, in young creatives grants provided by the Crown Resorts building project as well as its recurrent through the Youth Collective’s FOMArt Foundation and the Packer Family operational funding. All of us at the initiative, as well as in the Gallery’s Foundation. Gallery are very grateful for this. flagship free Wednesday evening program, Art After Hours. This year the Gallery was proud to This support is complemented by the launch the Fearless program, which philanthropic community. Following In 2018–19, support from presenting raises funds for the conservation and the most successful capital campaign sponsors allowed us to host display of works by women artists, of its kind in Australia, in December outstanding exhibitions and a wide while providing business development 2018 we announced that the Gallery range of programming. Thanks to opportunities for female executives. had secured $103.5 million in private Aqualand for its continued support of Thanks to those companies and support for the expansion project, a wide range of Gallery activities; individuals who have embraced this exceeding our original target of Herbert Smith Freehills, our legal important initiative for gender equity $100 million. This is a measure of the partner and supporter of our Asian in the arts. community’s strong support for our Galleries; Macquarie Group, which project as well as the stellar efforts supports the Australian collection; of the Capital Campaign Committee, and UBS, which invests in modern chaired by Dr Mark Nelson. On behalf and contemporary art, including of the Gallery’s trustees and staff, the The National 2019: new Australian artists whose work will fill the new art and The essential Duchamp. building, and the people who will enjoy JP Morgan’s support of the Brett this new cultural asset, my heartfelt Whiteley Studio and Brett Whiteley: thanks to the Campaign donors – listed drawing is everything continues the on page 65 – whose generosity has legacy of this important artist. set a new high-water mark for arts philanthropy in this country. 9 Our supporters’ generosity is not only While acknowledging the present material. One of the greatest gifts Gallery staff, I want to note my we receive each year is the time and sadness at the loss this year of expertise of volunteers who enable us Edmund Capon AM OBE, who served to share our collection and outstanding at the Gallery from 1978 to 2011 experiences with our visitors. I thank and whose passing we mourned in each of them for their personal March. In his 33 years at the Gallery, commitment to our Gallery. Edmund led this institution as it grew its attendance, expanded its I recognise the extraordinary support collection and blossomed into a of a few other individuals, including the cultural landmark. He undoubtedly built Premier of New South Wales, the the foundations upon which we are Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP and the operating today. It was a privilege to Hon Don Harwin MLC, Minister for work with him in my previous tenure as the Arts, who are ongoing champions president, and my thoughts remain with of the Gallery. We also appreciate his wife Joanna and their family. the support of NSW Treasurer, the Hon Dominic Perrottet MP and other Finally, I acknowledge with gratitude members of cabinet who have the invaluable contributions of engaged with and advocated for our my fellow trustees. In January we expansion plans. welcomed two exceptional new trustees – Sally Herman and John Between March and June 2019, Borghetti AO – while Ben Quilty and I the Gallery and its fellow cultural were reappointed for another term. I institutions began the process of particularly note the leadership of vice transition to the Department of president Gretel Packer and sub- Premier and Cabinet.