Gender Equity

Justene Williams, Strong Woman from Victory over the Sun (performance documentation), 2016, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, purchased 2021 © Justene Williams. Image courtesy of the artist and Sarah Cottier Gallery, Gadigal Nura/Sydney

Ensuring that all people regardless of gender, have the opportunity to reach their full potential is central to the National Gallery’s vision.

The National Gallery’s commitment to gender equity is core to the vision of the Gallery to inspire our nation through creativity, inclusivity, engagement and learning. Across Australia and the world, arts and cultural institutions are facing the lived realities of exclusions, inequities and histories that have shaped their collections, programs and foundational structures. We are now addressing the significant imbalances that exist. We advocate for change and engage with our staff, community and partners about gender equity issues. We recognise that to effect societal change, we need to ensure our own workplace culture, policy and artistic programs demonstrate gender equity, inclusivity, and respect.

National Gallery of Australia
Gender Equity Action Plan 2021–2026
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Guiding Principles

PRINCIPLE 1

Achieve equity across all activities including collection development and artistic programs on site, online, and on tour.

PRINCIPLE 2

Establish high-level leadership supporting gender equity across the National Gallery.

PRINCIPLE 3

Treat all genders fairly in the workplace, respecting and supporting human rights and non-discrimination.

PRINCIPLE 4

Ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of internal and external stakeholders, staff and volunteers.

PRINCIPLE 5

Promote education, training and professional development for women.

PRINCIPLE 6

Implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women.

PRINCIPLE 7

Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy.

PRINCIPLE 8

Measure and publicly report on progress to achieve gender equity.

The National Gallery commits to the above guiding principles to promote gender equity.

The Guiding Principles are adapted from the Women’s Empowerment Principles: Equality Means Business. Developed as a joint initiative between UN Women and the UN Global Compact, the Women’s Empowerment Principles are informed by international labour and human rights standards. The National Gallery recognises the worldwide contribution of UN Women, which is dedicated to gender equity and the empowerment of women, the 50/50 by 2030 Foundation, a gender equity initiative established by the Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis (IGPA) at the University of Canberra, Australia and the Australian Public Service Gender Equality Strategy 2021–2026.

Action Plan

The National Gallery’s first Gender Equity Action Plan 2021–2026 was developed in consultation with staff, Council, community, government and the sector. Ensuring that all people regardless of gender, have the opportunity to reach their full potential is central to the National Gallery’s vision. The Plan commits to:

  1. Accelerate gender equity
  2. Advocate for sector wide collaboration
  3. Strengthen organisational culture
  4. Empower participation
  5. Amplify data for equity
National Gallery of Australia
Gender Equity Action Plan 2021–2026
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Know My Name

The Know My Name initiative is a national program of exhibitions, commissions, education programs, partnerships and creative collaborations that celebrates the diversity and creativity of Australian women artists throughout history and to the present day.

  • Know My Name

    A woman with long dark hair is looking at a large work of art hanging on a gallery wall, with sculptural works visible in the foreground of the image

    Know My Name celebrates the work of all women artists with an aim to enhance understanding of their contribution to Australia’s cultural life.

  • Know My Name Virtual Conference

    A video still in black and white showing the profile of a light-skinned woman with a bowl haircut and the word 'faces' written across her cheek

    Delivered virtually over four afternoons and two evenings in Nov 2020, the Know My Name Conference celebrated all women as artists, activists, researchers, intellectuals and mentors.

  • Past Exhibition

    Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now
    Part 2

    Installation photograph of Know My Name exhibition galleries featuring a herd of black sculptures, a white large high bed sculpture and a metal sculpture hanging on the wall in the background showing the phases of the moon.

    14 Nov 2020 – 26 Jun 2022

    Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now showcases art made by women from the National Gallery’s collection and loans from across Australia.

  • The Artists

    A photograph of a woman standing in a field watching a hot-air balloon in the shape of a flying whale being inflated.

    See all women artists included in the Know My Name publication and Parts 1 & 2 of the Know My Name exhibition.

More on Gender Equity

A woman is sitting in font of a large wall of many portraits in a large gallery space

Installation view of Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now – Part 1

Gender equity in the arts and culture context

In the arts and culture sector, and in the visual arts specifically, the manifestations of gender inequity and gender bias play out in complex ways.

Read Essay