National Sculpture Garden Collective

DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

Welcome to the National Sculpture Garden Collective.

As we reflect on the success of our annual Gala, I would like to thank everyone who joined us for another incredible evening of celebration. The unveiling of the much-anticipated Ouroboros by Lindy Lee signals our future ambition for the revitalisation of the National Sculpture Garden.

I acknowledge our Visionary Patrons, The Kerry Stokes Collection and the Stokes Family, who have pledged $15 million to the project, with $10 million to assist in the realisation of the new pavilion, creating a permanent space in the garden for exhibitions, events and education. This incredible gift is the largest the National Gallery has ever received and builds upon the Stokes Family’s longstanding support of the arts in Australia.

I would also like to celebrate our Founding Patrons Tony Berg AM and Carol Berg AM, Julian Burt and Alexandra Burt, who supported our vision early on, and warmly thank Tim Fairfax AC and Gina Fairfax AC who have joined us on this journey.

In this month’s collective, we extend a wholehearted thank you to all of our supporters, whilst also providing you a deep dive into the vision for the future of the National Sculpture Garden with the winning design team. We also reflect on Canberra’s history as a city built upon design competitions, in an interview with Annabelle Pegrum, Project Advisor, National Sculpture Garden Design Competition.

DR NICK MITZEVICH
Director, National Gallery

A Sculpture Garden for the Twenty-First Century

Design Competitions: Part of the Capital's DNA

Thank you to our Supporters

National Sculpture Garden Film

DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

Welcome to the National Sculpture Garden Collective.

It is with great pleasure that the National Gallery announces CO-AP Holdings, comprising CO-AP, Studio JEF, TARN and Plus Minus Design as the winning design team selected to work on the major revitalisation of the National Sculpture Garden.

The multi-disciplinary team was selected unanimously by the Jury. Their vision combines care and a deep understanding of the heritage and legacy of the three-hectare site, with an ambition to enhance the Garden into a global destination for now and future generations.

We are excited by their vision to connect the Gallery and garden holistically, activating parts not yet realised to their full potential and improving accessibility, whilst also doubling the space available for the display of works of art. Their vision for a striking stainless-steel pavilion, reflecting the surrounding sky and gardens, adds a new architectural signature to the site that mirrors the boldness of the original iconography and creates a new permanent space for exhibitions, events and education programs.

Over the coming year, we will work with the CO-AP team to integrate their design concepts into our plan for the Garden and look forward to keeping you updated as the journey continues.

This year’s Gala on 26 October will be a wonderful celebration of Lindy Lee’s Ouroboros and the future of the National Sculpture Garden. We look forward to sharing the excitement with you.

DR NICK MITZEVICH
Director, National Gallery

A living gallery: winners of the National Sculpture Garden Design Competition announced

Triangles in the landscape

Art and Nature

PLACE

DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

Welcome to the National Sculpture Garden Collective.

This month we delve into the plants and extraordinary native species living within our Sculpture Garden, alongside the complexity, beauty and value of Australia’s biodiversity.

We have spoken with respected botanist Professor Kingsley Dixon AO who was invited by the Gallery to help develop the Stage One brief for the National Sculpture Garden Design Competition. One of Australia’s leading restoration ecologists and a passionate gardener, he takes us through the importance of embedding conversations about biodiversity into the competition and new garden from the very beginning of the project.

Our Gallery Landscape Manager Ben Taylor takes us through a day in the life of the garden, and we also look at the vital maintenance required to ensure our world-class Sculpture Garden continues to thrive for generations to come.

Next month, we will unveil the winning design concept, join us at our annual Gala on 26 October to meet the winning team selected to design the future National Sculpture Garden.

Until then, I invite you to discover this month's exclusive insights.

DR NICK MITZEVICH
Director, National Gallery

Interview with Kingsley Dixon AO

A day in the life of the National Gallery's landscape manager

Bert Flugelman National Treasures

DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

Welcome to the National Sculpture Garden Collective.

This month we explore the making of Ouroboros by contemporary Australian artist Lindy Lee. This immersive sculpture was commissioned to celebrate the National Gallery’s 40th anniversary in 2022 and represents the first major milestone in our plans to transform the National Sculpture Garden.

As the most significant commission for the Sculpture Garden to date – and one that is leading the way in sustainable public art practices – Ouroboros is a fitting marker of the scale of our ambition.

The international design competition for the National Sculpture Garden resulted in a shortlist of five Australian multi-disciplinary teams announced in June. Join us at our annual Gala on 26 October to meet the winning team and celebrate the future of the National Sculpture Garden. We are grateful to our Lead Patrons and those who pledged their early support of this visionary project.

I am excited for you to see this month’s content, including the new Art Truckers series trailer, and look forward to sharing more exclusive stories next month.

DR NICK MITZEVICH
Director, National Gallery

Art Truckers

Ouroboros Leads the Way in Sustainable Public Art

A Day in the Life of Lindy's Dedicated Team