2 February 2012

The Art Gallery of New South Wales and Bulgari, the luxury Italian brand, announce an exciting new three-year partnership.

Bulgari will support contemporary Australian painting by funding an annual acquisition for the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The Gallery will identify a significant painting by a mid-career Australian artist to be acquired for the state collection.

The Bulgari Art Award will consist of the $50,000 painting acquisition and a residency for the artist in Italy valued at $30,000. The total award of $80,000 will be one of the most valuable art awards in Australia.

The selected artist will be announced in April 2012. The painting will be unveiled at a gala event in July 2012 and be displayed in the contemporary galleries.

The Art Gallery of New South Wales holds one of the finest collections of Australian art in the country. Wayne Tunnicliffe, recently appointed head of Australian art, is excited by this opportunity to secure a new work for the collection and says:

'There is a generation of talented artists bringing a new sensibility to Australian painting which we wish to represent in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales – the Bulgari Art Award offers us a rare opportunity to acquire an important painting and to foster creative talent through the artist residency in Italy.’

---

Note to editors
Today part of the LVMH Group, Bulgari was founded in Rome in 1884 as a single jewellery shop whose magnificent jewellery creations soon became emblems of Italian excellence. International success has evolved the company into a global and diversified player in the luxury retail market, with a store network in the most exclusive shopping areas worldwide and a portfolio of product and services ranging from jewels and watches to accessories, perfumes and hotels.