Art Gallery of New South Wales Annual Report 2019-20
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ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES ANNUAL REPORT 2019–20 ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES ANNUAL REPORT 2019–20 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 2020. 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 30 November 2020 Contents 6 PRESIDENT’S FOREWORD 8 DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT 12 STRATEGIC GOAL 1: CAMPUS 14 STRATEGIC GOAL 2: ART 48 STRATEGIC GOAL 3: AUDIENCE 60 STRATEGIC GOAL 4: STRENGTH 70 STRATEGIC GOAL 5: PEOPLE 93 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 COVER: Takashi Murakami, Japan Supernatural: Vertiginous for Art Gallery of NSW Trust After Staring at the Empty World Too Intensely, I Found Myself The Art Gallery of New South Wales is a Trapped in the Realm of Lurking Ghosts and Monsters 2019, acrylic, gold leaf and glitter on canvas, 300 x 1000 cm, statutory body established under the Art Art Gallery of New South Wales, a Sydney Modern Gallery of New South Wales Act 1980 and, acquisition, purchased with funds provided by the Art Gallery from 1 July 2019, an executive agency related of New South Wales Foundation 2019 © 2019 Takashi to the Department of Premier and Cabinet. Murakami/Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. Photo: Jenni Carter, AGNSW ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES ANNUAL REPORT 2019–20 6 Highlights 1 million+ visitors 206 434 25% growth came to the Gallery, YouTube subscribers Brett Whiteley Studio and visitors attended our touring attended our public and exhibitions* education programs – 52 911 students and teachers growth * Note: Due to the impacts of COVID-19, the 16% Gallery and other NSW cultural institutions participated in education Instagram followers were closed to the public from 23 March – 1 June 2020 programs – 66 399 visitors engaged with youth and family experiences – 26 477 people participated in 5% growth 142 390 other public programs Facebook fans people – 34 574 visitors attended a guided tour attended Japan Supernatural – attracting new young and – 26 073 visitors attended 3 329 088 diverse audiences a film program website sessions 34 927 10 538 831 ARTEXPRESS 2020 website page views attendees 50 Australian artists engaged in commissioned work through Together In Art digital project 38 578 of66% education program Art After Hours participants were from Western 86 000 attendees Sydney and regional NSW visitors engaged with Together In Art digital project during COVID-19 shutdown 7 $1.749 billion $4.048 Sydney Modern total value of art collection – cash sponsorship Project up $443 million since 2015 million construction commenced November 2019 275 artworks $1.661 acquired million in-kind sponsor support $23.3 million worth of artworks purchased and gifted to collection Sustainability Working Group established to lead 35 470 Gallery-wide initiatives artworks in collection $143.3 million total Gallery revenue, including: – NSW Government recurrent contribution of $29.4 million – NSW Government capital funding of $41.1 million – Restricted bequests and $291 000+ 244 volunteer capital donations of to Australian artists in art guides and Task Force $55.4 million prizes and scholarships (2019) members – Other revenues of $17.4 million 13 585 volunteer hours ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES ANNUAL REPORT 2019–20 8 President’s foreword Each year for this report, I am asked to We owe much gratitude to our loyal This year marked the tenth anniversary review the Gallery’s achievements and benefactors: to the Art Gallery of New of our partnership with Destination to thank those who contributed. This is South Wales Foundation and our wider NSW through the Sydney International usually a very happy task, and while we philanthropic circle whose generosity Art Series. In 2019–20, the highly have much to be proud of and grateful enables us to acquire exceptional successful Japan Supernatural brought for this year, reflecting on 2019–20 works of art, as well as supporting a some of the most celebrated Japanese presents an entirely new experience. range of projects across the Gallery. artists of the past four centuries to our I particularly note the generosity of exhibition in Sydney. We began the financial year by our major donors and the ongoing welcoming the announcement of the support of our Campaign Committee, The significant support from our building contractor for our once-in- chaired by Dr Mark Nelson. Through leadership partners ANZ, Aqualand a-generation expansion. This was their efforts, the Gallery has raised and Macquarie University has enabled followed by a wonderful celebration in more than $100 million for our the Gallery to present important early November as we broke ground for expansion and continues to build exhibitions including the Archibald, the new building. It will provide almost support for art acquisitions, enhance Wynne and Sulman Prizes and double the exhibition space, enabling our existing building, and support new The Essential Duchamp; to provide us to increase visitation and expand programs to be delivered across the a creative and diverse night-time our public programs and educational expanded Gallery. destination in Art After Hours; and to enrichment for our diverse audiences. invest in the next artistic generation This year we were pleased to award through ARTEXPRESS and the Youth However, the second half of the year John Kaldor AO the Gallery’s highest Collective’s FOMArt. has tested the mettle of the Gallery, honour of Life Governor, reflecting the Board of Trustees and the wider his outstanding individual service, As presenting partners, Herbert world, as the extraordinary impact of advocacy and support for the Gallery. Smith Freehills supported our Asian COVID-19 required us to contend with In further recognition of the contribution galleries and Japan Supernatural conditions that changed daily, and John and his family have made to our exhibition; Macquarie Group invested continue to do so. institution, the Gallery’s entrance court in our presentation of the Australian has been named the John Kaldor art collection; while UBS supported In this context we have never been Family Hall. our contemporary art galleries as well more appreciative of the NSW as a number of significant exhibitions. Government’s investment in the Gallery I cannot remark on the wonderful J.P. Morgan provided ongoing support – not only for our expansion, but for philanthropic support we enjoy without for the Brett Whiteley Studio, and our ongoing operational security as noting the sad loss in June of one presenting sponsor EY was a major we contend with these uncharted of the Gallery’s great friends, Peter sponsor of Japan Supernatural. conditions. Public art museums are Weiss AO. Peter was a remarkable of utmost civic importance, and we supporter of the visual and orchestral The Bank of China, Robert Oatley value the government’s recognition arts, and his generosity enabled the Wines and Sofitel Sydney Wentworth and support for culture and community Gallery to acquire some of its most supported key exhibitions and events, wellbeing in our state during deeply exceptional artworks. He will be and our Business Councils, comprising difficult times. deeply missed. President’s Council and VisAsia Council, contributed generously to I thank all the Gallery’s sponsors our exhibition program. Likewise, who allow us to present art to more our support partners City of Sydney, people in ever more engaging and Glenfiddich and Hendrick’s Gin, accessible ways. Connecting artists Porter’s Original Paints, S&S Creative, and audiences has never been more and Valiant Events enabled us to important, and I thank sponsors for deliver exhibitions, events and their investment and vision and ongoing educational programs. commitment to our shared goals. 9 We appreciate our program supporters In addition to his excellent stewardship We were very pleased that the Crestone Wealth Management, of our art museum, and his steady Hon Mrs Ashley Dawson-Damer AM Paspaley Pearls and The Luxury implementation of our vision for its and Gretel Packer AM were Syndicate. Our media partners major expansion, I want to commend reappointed for another three-year JCDecaux, The Sydney Morning the Gallery’s director Michael Brand for term; I want to personally record my Herald, The Saturday Paper and his swift and considered response to appreciation for Gretel’s leadership as The Monthly helped us showcase the unexpected conditions we found vice-president. Thanks also go to sub- our exceptional exhibitions. ourselves in this year. His strength, committee chairs Samantha Meers AO, compassion and dedication under Sally Herman, John Borghetti AO and The Gallery also values the many these circumstances is exemplary; Andrew Cameron AM, all of whom have philanthropic, government and Michael and his Executive team’s worked hard for the Gallery this year. international grants that supported commitment to providing everyone special projects. with hope through art is nothing short Best wishes to Khadim Ali, who of inspiring. stepped down from the Board in A personal connection to the Gallery October due to his growing artistic is a marvellous gift, and so I thank I also applaud each and every one of commitments in Australia and our volunteers who give their time so the Gallery staff, who have handled internationally.