Sharing the National Collection
'Art is made to be seen, not kept in a dark room. The vast majority of the incredible works at the National Gallery of Australia are in storage at any one time. But with this program those works will be lit up on the walls of regional and suburban galleries across the country.'
Home to the most valuable collection of art in Australia, the national collection comprises over 155,000 works of art, including the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Our significant collection represents the whole of Australian art, modern art worldwide, particularly from Europe and America, and art from across Asia and the Pacific. The collection includes some of the finest examples in Australia of French Impressionism, Dada and Surrealism, the Russian avant-garde, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Minimalism and Conceptual Art.
National Gallery Director, Nick Mitzevich says 'Sharing the National Collection with people in regional Australia is something close to my heart. I started my career in a regional gallery and I want to see as many people as possible, regardless of where they live, experience and enjoy the national collection. This support will allow us to share more of the national collection with more Australians and local communities – making it a truly national collection.'
Under the National Cultural Policy Revive, the National Gallery’s Sharing the National Collection initiative will receive $11.8 million over 4 years. This support will allow us to share some of our much-loved works with regional and suburban galleries, and cultural institutions across the country on long-term loans.
The National Gallery welcomes expressions of interest from eligible cultural institutions across the country and partnering with as many as possible to share the national collection.
Find the collection
ON DISPLAY
Araluen Arts Centre, NT
1 Jun 2024 – Jun 2026
Albert Namatjira Central Australian Landscape 1945 (image), Quarritana, Finke River (Organ pipes) c.1948, Glen Helen Gorge from the south looking north about 1955 and Ghost gum c.1950
Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri Sunrise chasing away the night 1977–78
Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula Egret Dreaming 1971
Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri Water Dreaming 1972
Timmy Payungka Tjapangarti Corroboree site two c.1973
Old Tutuma Tjapangati Big Corroboree Dreaming c.1971
Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, NSW
15 Dec 2023 – 15 Dec 2025
Julie Gough Hunting Ground (Haunted) & (Pastoral) Van Diemen’s Land 2016
r e a PolesApart 2009 (image)
Fiona Foley Bliss 2008
Megan Cope Toponymic interventions #3 2014
Central Goldfields Art Gallery, VIC
27 Jun 2024 – Jun 2026
Godfrey and Abraham Australian goldfields brooch c. 1860
Unknown Brooch 1890–1910
Unknown silversmith Locket c. 1860
Unknown silversmith Pair of earrings c. 1860
Rowena Gough Positive/Negative c. 1979, Ring c. 1979 and Ring c. 1979
Unknown silversmith Stick pin c. 1860
Unknown silversmith Stick pin c. 1860
Unknown silversmith Brooch c. 1860 (image)
Unknown silversmith Brooch for Lola Montez c. 1855
Unknown silversmith Box with quartz lid c. 1875
Home of the Arts (HOTA), QLD
22 Jun 2024 – 21 Jun 2026
David Hockney A Bigger Grand Canyon 1998 (image)
Imants Tillers Mount Analogue 1985
Bridget Riley Reef 1976 and Veld 1971
Eugene von Guerard North-east view from the northern top of Mount Kosciusko 1863
Shigekazu Nagae Sogu katachi 2005
Hervey Bay Regional Gallery, QLD
21 Sep 2024 – 21 Sep 2026
Sidney Nolan Head of a soldier 1942 (image)
Arthur Boyd Landscape near Berwick 1948
Margaret Preston Still life: fruit (Arnhem Land motif) 1941
John Wardell Power Basket of fruit 1936
Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, NSW
16 Feb 2024 – 28 Feb 2029
Barnett Newman Broken obelisk 1963/1967/2005 (image)
Temora Arts Centre, NSW
1 Jun 2024 – 31 May 2026
Ken Mihara Kigen (Genesis) no. 1 2013
Takeshi Mitsumoto Chrysanthemum tray 2008 (image)
Jun Kaneko untitled Oval 1994
Shigekazu Nagae Sogu katachi 2005
Texas Regional Gallery, QLD
22 Mar 2024 – Mar 2026
Jan Brown Carnage 1978, Fat bird 1989, Small Magpie 2005, Adolescent 1994 and Walking bird 2006 (image)
Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre, NSW
1 Nov 2023 – 26 Oct 2025
Claude Monet Meules, milieu du jour [Haystacks, midday] 1890 (image)
Wanneroo Regional Gallery, WA
1 Mar 2024 – 25 Feb 2026
Andy Warhol Elvis 1963 (image), Campbell’s Soup I 1968 (10 prints), Mick Jagger 1975 (10 prints), Muhammad Ali 1978 (4 prints), Portraits from Artists and Photographs 1970 (8 prints), Flowers 1974 (10 prints) and Electric Chairs 1971 (10 prints)
Waverley Park Homestead, SA
28 Jul 2024 – Jul 2026
Kathleen Sauerbier Jetty ramp and Howe's fishing lookout c. 1935 (image)
COMING SOON
Ipswich Art Gallery, QLD
From 28 October 2024:
Mark Rothko 1957 #20 1957 (image)
Agnes Martin Untitled III 1982 and Untitled #8 1980
Gwyn Hanssen Pigott Still life no.4 1990 and Steadfast 2009
Burnie Arts Centre, TAS
From April 2025:
Julie Gough, Trawlwoolway people Human Nature and Material Culture 1994 (image)
Tamworth Regional Gallery, NSW
From 29 November 2024:
Grace Crowley Harrowing, Glen Riddle, Barraba 1920 and Abstract Painting 1952
Grace Cossington Smith Trees in blossom c. 1930 (image) and Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question 1952
From 26 February 2027:
Grace Crowley Woman (Annunciation) c.1939
Grace Cossington Smith Orchestral concert: Dr, Sargent conducting in the Sydney Town Hall c.1939
Griffith Regional Art Gallery, NSW
From 8 November 2024:
Frank Bauer Cubic structure, pendant 1979 and Pair of spectacles 1985
Julie Blyfield Remnant no 9, brooch 2013
Helen Britton Brooch 2011
Melissa Cameron Cannon and Tank 2013
Susan Cohn Systematic Gibsonia no. 2 condom pendant, Systematic Reflections on a Safe Future 1995
Jessica Dare Xylem neckpiece 2013
Joungmee Do Rocky Mountain brooch 2014
Robert Foster Bandaliero II 2009
Mari Funaki Brooch No 7 1995
Viliama Grakalic The cage 1979 (image)
Ragner Hansen Armring 1977
Vagn Hemmingsen Neckring 1974
Marian Hosking Kites, brooch 1998
Linda Hughes Pop Art brooch 2 (after Riley) 2013
Johannes Kuhnen Armband 2010
Andrew Last Grey brooch 1995
Cinnamon Lee Ring internally yours 2013
Helge Larsen Blue house brooch 1975 and Mutual support ring 2006
Carlier Makigawa Brooch 1980s
Sally Marsland Almost black (Paulownia), brooch 2001
Mascha Moje Ring 1999, Necklace 2002 and Australia Council Visual Arts Board Emeritus Medal 2009
Sean O'Connell Chain bracelet 2013
David Philips Reflector pendant 2006
Blanche Tilden Necklace 1995
Catherine Truman Fish neckpiece number 2 1987 and Yellow twist cone, brooch 2012
David Walker Scar tissue 2, brooch 1989
Margaret West Watching the sky 1998
Helge Larsen Harbour Bridge pendant 1974
Carlier Makigawa Red field brooch 1995
Peter Tully Australia badge (a la Pollock) early 1980s, Shoe keyring 1992, Blue Shark necklace c.1978 and
Bejewelled whistle 1992
Christel van Der Laan Holier than thou 1, brooch 2011
Zoë Jay Veness Square brooch 2010
Eligibility
The Sharing the National Collection initiative is focused on regional and suburban Australia. In defining this, the National Gallery seeks to be as generous and inclusive as possible.
The primary criterion is that the institution must be in regional or suburban Australia. For the purposes of Sharing the National Collection, regional and suburban Australia is defined as >5km from the GPO of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Brisbane. This means that all of Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Western Australia (including the GPO of their state capitals) are included.
State collecting institutions in the jurisdictions of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia are ineligible to participate in Sharing the National Collection.
Commercial galleries and private individuals are ineligible to participate in Sharing the National Collection.
The Sharing the National Collection initiative is designed for long-term loan requests. Short-term loans can be considered via our ongoing outward loans program.
What the National Gallery provides to partner institutions
- Conservation (to enable the work to travel), packing and outgoing freight.
- Labels for the artwork being shared.
- A range of support materials (that may include branding, any available high-resolution image for the work, media release, curatorial and front-of-house notes to support visitor engagement).
- Care instructions for the work.
- Reactive conservation support (onsite or online, depending on need and type of work).
- Insurance cover (in transit and while in the custody of the partner institution) for the full value of the artwork.
A range of other support is available for institutions who may need it in order to participate in this initiative, including copyright assistance, installation support and curatorial advice.
Please note that capital purchases and/or upgrades to facilities are not able to be funded as part of Sharing the National Collection.
Expressions of interest
Lodge an expression of interest here.
The Sharing the National Collection initiative is designed for long-term loan requests. Short-term loans can be considered via our ongoing outward loans program.
Search the collection
Our collection search has a record for almost every work of art in the national collection (over 99%).
This database is the inventory management tool that allows you to research and select the work(s) of art you would like to express interest in.
Labels added to the record help to indicate if the work of art may be available for loan. For example ‘on display’ and ‘on tour’ mean the artwork is already being enjoyed.
There are a number of ways to search the collection, such as by keyword, curriculum term and geographically. Visit Art & Artists for more information.