Foundation Annual Report 2015–16
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National Gallery of Australia Foundation Annual Report 2015–16 Foundation Annual Report 2015 –16 Published by the National Gallery of Australia Parkes Place, Canberra ACT 2600 GPO Box 1150, Canberra ACT 2601 nga.gov.au/aboutus/reports National Gallery of Australia Foundation Office T +61 (0)2 6240 6408 © National Gallery of Australia 2016 All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Prepared by the NGA Foundation Edited by Eric Meredith Designed by Kirsty Morrison Printed by Union Offset Printers Cover: Fred Williams Lightning storm, Waratah Bay 1971–72 (detail). Gift of Lyn Williams AM, 2015. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program. © Estate of Fred Williams Page 4: Tim Fairfax AC with graduating Summer Art Scholar Solomona Nona, 12 January 2016 Page 13: This year’s NGA Summer Art Scholars on Jim Lambie’s floor installation Sound system 2015, purchased through the Poynton Bequest Page 16: Denis Savill and Anne Clarke with Tom Roberts’s A break away! 1891 during the Gala Dinner viewing of Tom Roberts at the NGA, 12 March 2016 Page 43: Pipilotti Rist Worry will vanish revelation, from the series Worry work family 2015, audio-video installation, music by Anders Guggisberg. Courtesy the artist, Hauser & Wirth and Luhring Augustine. © Pipilotti Rist 2 CONTENTS Introduction Chair’s report 5 Foundation overview Foundation Board 14 About the Foundation 15 Support Ways of giving 17 Members 18 Donors 2014–15 35 Select gifts 43 Financial statements Independent auditor’s report 80 Directors’ report 82 Financial statements 91 Notes 95 Directors’ declaration 100 NGA Foundation Annual Report 2015–16 3 INTRODUCTION CHAIR’S REPORT I am delighted to present the National Gallery of For instance, the very generous support of Australia Foundation Annual Report 2015–16 in Krystyna Campbell-Pretty, Alan Cowen and which we can reflect on the year’s achievements Mavourneen Cowen and Kerry Stokes AC and and formally recognise the generous and Christine Simpson Stokes made possible the committed donors who have contributed to purchase of Tom Roberts’s striking 1886 portrait the Foundation’s success. Donations of cash of friend and colleague Louis Abrahams just and works of art in 2015–16 totalled $7.445 prior to the opening of the NGA’s summer million, contributing not only to the national retrospective in December 2015. This was collection but also to developing and staging a sensational new discovery, never before exhibitions and to the NGA’s education program recorded, which drew considerable press and and publishing activities. The increase in private public attention to the Tom Roberts exhibition. support for the exhibition program is particularly Crying baby 1898, a gift this year from the noteworthy. With the mounting pressures artist’s descendent Lisa Roberts, was also of Government’s ever-increasing efficiency included in the exhibition. Fred Williams’s dividend and the rising costs of doing business, Lightning storm, Waratah Bay 1971–72, which support for the NGA’s non-collecting activities is was a star attraction at the NGA’s 2011 becoming increasingly vital to safeguarding and retrospective Fred Williams: infinite horizons, illuminating the collection for future generations. was generously donated by Lyn Williams AM Pages 43 to 78 of this report include illustrations this year. World-renowned nature commentator of a select number of gifts and works of art Sir David Attenborough acknowledged the acquired with the assistance of your generous importance of staging the exhibition Myth and donations during the year. Throughout, I also magic: art of the Sepik River when he gave three mention those who have given to support significant works from Papua New Guinea’s non-collecting activities. However, I would like Sepik River region, which he collected while to make special mention here of NGA Council shooting a documentary there in the early member Tim Fairfax AC, whose generous 2014 1970s. And, in the lead-up to Mike Parr: Foreign pledge over five years has established the Looking, a suite of Mike Parr’s lithographs NGA’s Betty Churcher Art Education and Access spanning fifteen years was donated by printer Program, acknowledging, at Tim’s request, the and long-time collaborator John Loane and Sara former director’s particular commitment to Kelly. Jane Hylton also gave a 1993 etching and arts education and to making the visual arts Bruce Adams donated documentation of some a part of everyday life. The program delivers of Parr’s most compelling early interventions. the annual Summer Art Scholarship, Sculpture I would like to note at this point that the Garden Sunday and the Big Draw and many exhibition was generously supported by a group other programs. The funding will also support of Exhibition Patrons, led by Robyn and Graham NGA Play, a new creative art space specifically Burke, who are acknowledged below. for children and their parents, due to open in the The Australian collection also continues to NGA’s entrance foyer in late November 2016. grow through the significant support of artists and their families and friends. Sculptor and Major donations and gifts philanthropist Andrew Rogers generously gave a I am very pleased to say that, once again, group of his artist proofs as well as a significant the NGA, through the Foundation, received cash donation to assist with reinvigorating the several major cash donations and works of art, NGA’s Sculpture Garden. Aboriginal artist Danie which have enhanced the national collection. Mellor donated a number of works, including a Some were inspired by the NGA’s exceptional suite of five earthenware shields, and world- exhibitions in the year, by the scholarship evident renowned local glass artist Klaus Moje donated in its publishing program or by the strength Arrival, a very significant work from 1983 and of its longstanding or new friendships with a gift that is now even more poignant in light visionary people Australia-wide who understand of his recent passing. The late Judith Wright’s and appreciate the important role art plays in husband, Peter Wright, donated five iterations our society. of her major installation Destination 2013. NGA Foundation Annual Report 2015–16 5 Salvatore Zofrea OAM donated his arresting generous cash donation through the Flame tree in morning light 2014, a painting of Lansdowne Foundation was used to support the landscape near his studio in the foothills the acquisition of two important Australian of the Blue Mountains. Jude Rae gave her works by Jan Nelson and Aida Tomescu as important work Victoria Chambers 2006 well as the NGA’s Art and Dementia program. in memory of her father David Rae. Former NGA Kerr Neilson’s donation through the Neilson staff member Hester Gascoigne gave a major Foundation assisted in publishing the Mike Parr 1991 work by her late mother Rosalie Gascoigne. book and supported the acquisition of a costume And the important archive of German designed by Henri Matisse for the Ballets émigré artist Ludwig Hirschfeld Mack was an Russes production of Le chant du rossignol. Gina exceptional and welcome gift from the artist’s Woodhill gave a generous cash donation, which grandson Chris Bell. The NGA’s Research Library will support a partnership between the NGA and also received two very significant artist archives: the Brandenburg Orchestra for the Versailles Mandy Martin gave the contents of her archive exhibition and help deliver the NGA’s new, and Howard Taylor’s archive from 1976 to 2006 dedicated play space for children. And, finally, was a gift from Hilaire Dufour. a significant donation by prominent Sydney Lisa Roet’s large, bronze sculpture Orangutan gallerist Denis Savill will support an important Foot 2007 was a major gift from Richard and Australian acquisition in the future. Jan Frolich. Caitlin Littlewood donated a suite of etchings by John Olsen. Patrick Corrigan Bequests and the NGA Bequest Circle AM generously gave a group of paintings The NGA resolved two major bequests during by Indigenous artists Maria Butcher, Craig the year, one from the estate of Warwick and Koomeeta, Rosella Namok and Doris Platt as Jane Flecknoe and another from the estate well as the 2010 series The mission by Bidjara of Mervyn Horton. Through the Flecknoes’ photographer Michael Cook. Melbourne fine considerable generosity, the NGA was able art dealer Lauraine Diggins donated paintings to acquire recent and seminal works by both by Angelina Ngal and Kathleen Ngal, and seven established and emerging Australian artists, Hermannsburg watercolours were given in two including Aleks Danko, Patricia Piccinini, Ildiko separate gifts in the year from Keith Little and Kovacs and many others. Mervyn Horton, Isolda Slattery. a highly respected art publisher and collector, The international art collection was generously generously bequeathed a stunning and rare supported by an anonymous donor who 1936 painting by William Dobell. gave an exquisite mid-1890s watercolour by Paul Cézanne, Mountain landscape near Aix. Exhibition patronage A dedicated campaign to grow the NGA’s The support of private donors, alongside our collection of works on paper by Cézanne has corporate partners, has become increasingly been significantly supported by Australian vital for the delivery of world-class exhibitions, author Murray Bail, who gave a generous cash as the costs of putting on a diverse and gift to establish the Cézanne Watercolour and engaging exhibition program continue to grow Drawing Fund, and I take this opportunity to each year. In this category, Foundation Board thank him for his passion and commitment director Robyn Burke and Graham Burke require to attracting donors to this fund. The Asian a special mention, as their patronage through collection at the NGA received a very significant Village Roadshow was central to presenting the boost through the dedicated and continuing NGA’s exhibition Mike Parr: Foreign Looking.