Sharing the National Collection

The national collection is vast – and so is Australia. As the home of more than 155,000 works of art, including the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, the National Gallery’s collection belongs to all Australians.

For the first time in history, the new 2023 national cultural policy Revive saw the formation of Sharing the National Collection – a pilot program to share the richness of the collection with audiences across the country, with major works of art headed to regional and suburban areas on long-term loans.

From Monet in Murwillumbah to Warhols in Wanneroo, as we celebrate a year of sending art across Australia, we mark the milestone with a few highlights from Sharing the National Collection.

A masterpiece by French impressionist Claude Monet was among the first works of art shared with a regional gallery under the initiative. One of the world's most famous paintings, Meules, milieu du jour [Haystacks, midday], 1890 is one of five works shared with the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre.

Considered a jewel in the national collection, Director of the National Gallery Nick Mitzevitch said ‘It is the most important Monet in the country, and we are delighted to be sharing it with regional Australia.’

A towering outdoor sculpture by American artist Barnett Newman was transported from Kamberri/Canberra to the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery in Nowra, New South Wales – its new home for five years. The three-and-a-half tonne outdoor sculpture, Broken obelisk by American artist Barnett Newman is a masterpiece of human engineering. Judith Blackall, Director of Shoalhaven Regional Gallery said: 'To observe the different hues in shifting season light, the powerful contrast of the form against the streetscape, its relationship to the cavity space of the building's forecourt and the juxtaposition with the eucalyptus tree has been extraordinary.'

Leading First Nations female artists came together at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre for Ngurra Bayala (Country speaks), co-curated with Dharug artist and curator Leanne Tobin. The display celebrates moving image works by seven female First Nations artists with nationally significant loans from Megan Cope, Quandamooka peoples, Fiona Foley, Badtjala peoples, Julie Gough, Trawoolaway peoples and r e a, Kamilaroi, and Wailwan peoples. A team member at Blue Mountains Cultural Centre said, 'I’ve witnessed great experiences overall with Ngurra Bayala including two people walking out (on separate occasions) with tears in their eyes […] Another visitor was so calmed by Ngurra Bayala that they returned the next day and spent their whole lunch break in there. [It’s been] positive and many people have asked if it could stay permanently.'

Over 50 works of art by American artist Andy Warhol were welcomed to Western Australia in a Pop Art takeover at Wanneroo Regional Gallery. From Elvis to Campbell Soup cans, the largest partnership to date includes Warhol’s famous images of everyday life and pop culture.

Two works of art have returned home as part of the initiative. South Australian artist Kathleen Sauerbier’s Jetty ramp and Howe's fishing lookout took pride of place at a local gallery in the region where it was created, displayed at Waverley Park Homestead in Willunga, South Australia. Sauerbier produced many of her works, including this one, while living in Port Willunga in the mid-1930s, inspired by the local scenery and beaches.

A redeveloped Burnie Arts Centre in northwest Tasmania will host an iconic work by internationally acclaimed artist Julie Gough. A Trawlwoolway artist based in lutruwita/Tasmania and a descendent of Tasmanian Aboriginal leader and warrior, Mannalargenna, Gough’s work Human Nature and Material Culture (1994) features 1940s floral carpet in the shape of Tasmania and invites visitors to stand on weighted scales – representing how we all carry the weight of the past.

Every state and territory of Australia has a piece of the national collection either on display or on the way, and with interest from venues across the country, the success of the initiative continues to grow. Close to 150,000 people have engaged with the collection so far with galleries seeing an influx in visitor numbers and media coverage. The National Gallery has shared large-scale sculptures, works on paper, digital media and installation, textiles and objects, with paintings being the most popular loan request. With three years of the pilot to go and new applications incoming, prepare to see more of the national collection in regional and suburban galleries over the coming years.

Thanks to this initiative, National Gallery Director, Nick Mitzevich said that National Gallery is now more connected to Australians than ever before.

'The national collection is a significant cultural resource for all Australians to share and the Albanese Government established Sharing the National Collection with the aim of making it more accessible to Australians beyond Kamberri/Canberra. Australia’s national collection holds many significant works of art from here and across the globe, and we believe sharing art across Australia can be transformative for regional and suburban communities. It is heartening to see the tangible benefits galleries are experiencing from hosting the national collection—ranging from increased visitor numbers and media coverage to enhanced educational opportunities and creative responses from local artists. With over 80 expressions of interest in the program in its first year, the future of this initiative shows great promise. We look forward to continuing to work with our regional partners across the country to share the national collection across Australia.'

Expressions of interest for Sharing the National Collection are open now, apply here.