annual report 2004–2005 annual report 2004–2005 annual report 2004–2005 The National Gallery of Australia is a Commonwealth authority established under the National Gallery Act 1975. The vision of the National Gallery is the cultural enrichment of all Australians through access to their national art gallery, the quality of the national collection, the exceptional displays, exhibitions and programs, and the professionalism of Gallery staff. Led by a Chairman appointed by the Governor-General, the governing body, the Council of the National Gallery of Australia, has expertise in the arts, corporate governance, administration and financial and business management. In 2004–2005 the National Gallery received an Australian Government appropriation of $41.660 million, raised $10.517 million privately, and employed 232 full-time equivalent staff. © National Gallery of Australia 2005 ISSN 1323 5192 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may 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. Produced by Publications Department of the National Gallery of Australia Edited by Pauline Green Designed by WhiteFox Communications Lindsay Davidson Printed by Goanna Print National Gallery of Australia GPO Box 1150 Canberra ACT 2601 nga.gov.au/Reports/AR0405 cover Chola period 860–1279 Tamil Nadu The child-saint Sambandar 12th century bronze 66.1 x 36.0 x 22.0 cm Purchased 2005 back cover: reverse view of sculpture 1 September 2005 Senator the Hon. Rod Kemp Minister for the Arts and Sport Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 Dear Minister I have pleasure in submitting to you, for presentation to each House of Parliament, the National Gallery of Australia’s Annual Report covering the period 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005. The report is submitted to you in accordance with the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 and the National Gallery Act 1975. The Performance Report has been prepared consistent with the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies (Report of Operations) Orders 2002. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Finance Minister’s Orders made under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997. Yours sincerely Harold Mitchell AO Chairman of Council NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2004–2005 3 CONTENTS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 3 CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD 7 DIRECTOR’S REPORT 9 CORPORATE OVERVIEW 13 PERFORMANCE REPORT 2004–2005 Outcome and Outputs 18 REPORT AGAINST STRATEGIC PLAN 2004–2007 Collection Development Goal 1 Acquire premium works of art 22 Goal 2 Strengthen and refine the national collection 23 Collection Management Goal 3 Maintain and protect the national collection 32 Access to and Promotion of Works of Art Goal 4 Deliver outstanding displays and exhibitions 36 Goal 5 Provide and promote access to the national collection 40 People and Resource Management Goal 6 Sustain an encouraging and productive environment for all staff 48 Goal 7 Refurbish and enhance the National Gallery’s building and precinct 54 Goal 8 Strengthen the National Gallery’s resource base 56 NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA FINANCIAL REPORT 2004–2005 60 APPENDICES 1. Council of the National Gallery of Australia 94 2. Management Structure at 30 June 2005 96 3. Staff of the National Gallery of Australia at 30 June 2005 97 4. Acquisitions 2004–2005 99 5. Total Acquisitions including Purchases and Gifts 1999–2000/2004–2005 138 6. Exhibitions held at the National Gallery of Australia 2004–2005 139 7. Attendance 1999–2000/2004–2005 140 8. Travelling Exhibitions 2004–2005 141 9. Outward Loans to Exhibitions – Australia and International 143 10. Inward Loans 147 11. Outward Loans including Travelling Exhibitions 1999–2000/2004–2005 149 12. National Gallery of Australia Sponsors 2004–2005 150 13. National Gallery of Australia Volunteers at 30 June 2005 151 14. Publications of the National Gallery of Australia 2004–2005 152 15. Consultants 2004–2005 153 16. Performance Measures and Outcomes against 2004–2005 Business Plan 154 17. Occupational Health and Safety Measures 1998–2005 156 18. Compliance Index and Contact Officers 157 INDEX 159 COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA 2004–2005 Standing, left to right: Ann Lewis AM, Michael Chaney AO, Ron Radford AM (Director), Charles Curran AO, Robert Champion de Crespigny AC, Rupert Myer AM, Ashley Dawson-Damer. Seated, left to right: Roslyn Packer, Lee Liberman, Elizabeth Nosworthy AO, Harold Mitchell AO (Chair), Roslynne Bracher CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD This was an eventful year for the National During the year we welcomed Ron Radford, Mrs Gallery with the appointment of Mr Ron Roslynne Bracher and Ms Ashley Dawson-Damer Radford AM to succeed Dr Brian Kennedy, to the Council; and Mrs Roslyn Packer and Mr who concluded a seven-year term as Robert Champion de Crespigny AC were Director. We welcome Ron and look forward reappointed for a second term. Mrs Ann Lewis AM to his leadership in the next exciting period concluded a six-year term as a Council Member of achievement for the Gallery. and we thank her for her enthusiastic support over those years. Access to the collection continued to be provided through public display, loans, travelling The Gallery’s many volunteers continue to make exhibitions, public programs, the Gallery’s an outstanding contribution and I thank them all publications and website. It was particularly for their valuable service. pleasing to note the increase in collection access achieved through the website during the year. The Council acknowledges with appreciation the ongoing support of the Australian Government, Important works of art were acquired, many in particular the support provided by the Minister through the generosity of donors whose for the Arts and Sport, Senator the Hon. Rod assistance is greatly appreciated. I would Kemp, and the Minister for Communications, especially like to acknowledge the substantial Information Technology and the Arts, Senator achievements of the National Gallery of Australia the Hon. Helen Coonan. Foundation under the leadership of its Chair, Mr Tony Berg AM. To Directors Brian Kennedy and Ron Radford, and to the National Gallery’s dedicated and talented The development of the design of a new entrance staff, on behalf of the Council I express my sincere precinct for the Gallery was advanced in the year. gratitude for another year of significant We value the assistance of Mr Colin Madigan AO, achievement. principal architect for the original building, and we acknowledge the significant efforts of the project architects, PTW Architects. We are excited to be able to achieve much improved and enhanced facilities for the public through the building refurbishment program. Harold Mitchell AO Chairman of Council NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2004–2005 7 8 DIRECTOR’S REPORT I am delighted to present my first report as Amongst more than 2,000 works of art acquired Director of the National Gallery of Australia. during the year, the most significant acquisitions included a group of Indian works: the magnificent I acknowledge the considerable achievements of 12th-century Chola bronze, The child-saint the seven years of Dr Brian Kennedy’s directorship; Sambandar, that features on the cover of this and I thank Alan Froud for his fine stewardship of report; a rare 3rd-century stone Amaravati the Gallery between the time of Brian’s departure sculpture, Scene from the life of the Buddha; and my arrival. My vision for the Gallery’s future Goddess Pratyangira, a 12th-century Chola period directions will feature in next year’s report. granite sculpture; and a brilliant painted temple However it is already clear that the major focus hanging or pichhavai from Rajasthan, Krishna’s of the collections will be Australian art (including fluting summons the entranced gopis c.1840. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art) and the art of our own region, Asia and the Pacific; but we An important Southeast Asian acquisition is a pair will not be neglecting our important 20th-century of 19th-century ancestral guardian figures from international collections. the Philippines. We have also acquired a number of Southeast Asian Islamic objects and textiles. Among the key strategic issues facingthe Gallery is the need to enhance collection display space. No In Australian art the Gallery acquired an extremely permanent collection space has rare Absalom West publication of 1812–14, Views been added to the Gallery since the plan for in New South Wales, of which only four sets are the building was first conceived at the end of known to exist; and Ferdinand Bauer’s book of the 1960s. The intention then was to display engravings, Illustrationes florae Novae Hollandiae 1,000 works of art – the Gallery now has over 1806–13, of which only 15 copies were produced. 100,000 works in its collections. The Gallery is also developing a collection storage strategy Five important colonial works and early that addresses short term, and long term, 20th-century paintings from the Foster’s Collection requirements. were acquired: John Glover’s House on the Derwent, van Diemen’s Land c.1836; John Skinner Prout’s I am pleased to be able to report that all planned Aborigine stalking – Willoughby Falls, New South activities and goals of year one of the Strategic Wales c.1850; Alexander Schramm’s Adelaide, Plan 2004–2007 have been successfully achieved, a tribe of natives on the banks of the river Torrens as outlined throughout these pages. 1850; W C Piguenit’s Near Liverpool, New South Wales c.1908; and E Phillips Fox’s The corn field Occupational health and safety remains an c.1904. A number of important works by important focus, and Gallery staff made significant Indigenous artists, including Wiradjuri/Kamileroi progress towards implementing the National artist Michael Riley, Kuninjku artist John Mawurndjul Safety Council of Australia’s 5 Star Program – and Manharrngu artist David Malangi Daymirringu, the Gallery increased its rating to three stars (from entered the collection.