FAQs

As part of the Art Gallery’s transformation – the Sydney Modern Project – we have revitalised the front of the existing building to recreate an expanded civic forecourt. This includes adding two reflecting pools, as well as more trees, seating, shade, and public amenity. We will also be improving the pedestrian crossing from the Domain to the Art Gallery in 2023 to make it accessible for everyone.

The vehicle and parking arrangements at the front of the existing Art Gallery include two accessible parking spaces, two taxi ranks, a stop for the STA Bus 441, and coach drop-off/pick-up. A third accessible parking space is located at the front of the new building on Art Gallery Road.

The Sydney Modern Project is the transformation of the Art Gallery of NSW. It involves construction of the new building, revitalisation of the existing building and significant landscape works. The transformation has almost doubled existing exhibition space.

Prior to opening of the new building, the Art Gallery had not had a significant expansion in more than 30 years and current spaces were working beyond their capacity. By almost doubling the space for the display and enjoyment of art, the Art Gallery is now able to show more of its art collection alongside the best Australian and international exhibitions.

A new building, designed by architects SANAA and constructed by Richard Crookes Constructions to the north of the existing Art Gallery, opened to the public from 3 December 2022. The stand-alone building is connected to the existing Art Gallery by an outdoor public art garden. Together, the two buildings and art garden form the expanded Art Gallery of NSW. As part of the Sydney Modern Project, a program of revitalisation works was undertaken in the existing building.

The new building enhances the site to the north of the existing Art Gallery and is constructed on-top of two concrete platforms – one being the land bridge over the Eastern Distributor and Cahill Expressway, and the other being the roof on top of two disused World War II naval oil tanks. The new building has adaptively re-used the two oil tanks. Most of the land bridge remains open space with a new public art garden.

The new and existing buildings operate as stand-alone buildings connected via an outdoor public art garden, which features art and landscape.

The Art Gallery remained open during construction of the new building.

The new building opened to the public from 3 December 2022.

The land is owned by the NSW Government. Its management is split across three State Government entities: the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Transport for NSW (Roads and Maritime Services), and the Art Gallery of NSW. The land tenure arrangements, including areas of subdivision for current and future leases, have been agreed with all landowners.

The expanded Art Gallery does not impact on land within the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, and the Gallery continues to work closely with its government colleagues and precinct partners to ensure plans and aspirations for the precinct are aligned.

Part of the Art Gallery’s new building includes adaptive re-use of two disused World War II naval oil tanks. This has enabled public access into a significant State asset for the first time. One of the tanks has been repurposed into a unique art space and the other tank has been converted into back of house and a state-of-the-art loading dock to service the new building.

The Sydney Modern Project has delivered a range of cultural, educational and economic benefits, including:

• Close to double the current building’s exhibition space to enable the Art Gallery to show more of the State’s outstanding art collection and attract major national and international exhibitions to Sydney

• A new prominent destination showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and culture

• Increased visitation to at least 2 million per year, including capacity to significantly increase student and teacher visits

• Dedicated spaces and facilities for learning and participation, with innovative and interactive programs

• Architectural and cultural landmark where people, art and ideas come together in the heart of Sydney’s eastern cultural precinct

• The first public art museum in the nation to achieve the highest environmental standard for design with a 6-star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia

• Enhanced open spaces across the site with a public art garden, courtyards, green roofs, and three landscaped accessible roof terraces

• Improved 24/7 public access, landscaping and civic amenity for all visitors and an improved universal pathway with two new lifts to better connect Woolloomooloo with the CBD

• Wider economic benefit to the NSW economy of more than $1 billion over the next 25 years, including the creation of 242 full-time jobs

The total budget for the Art Gallery’s transformation was $344 million.

The NSW Government contributed $244 million and the Art Gallery’s Capital Campaign raised more than $100 million in philanthropic support.

The Sydney Modern Project is the largest government and philanthropic partnership of its kind to date in the Australian arts.

The Art Gallery’s $100 million Capital Campaign to support the construction of the new building was officially launched in 2017, with a $20 million gift from Isaac Wakil AO and Susan Wakil AO – the largest monetary donation in the Art Gallery’s history. The Susan & Isaac Wakil Foundation has since made an additional gift of $4 million, bringing their total commitment to $24 million.

In November 2018, the Art Gallery announced that it had surpassed its campaign target, raising $103.5 million. The Art Gallery launched an art acquisitions campaign in the lead up to its 150th anniversary in 2021 and continues to seek philanthropic support for art acquisitions and public programming.

Modifications and enhancements have been made to the existing building to ensure the Art Gallery continues to operate efficiently across two stand-alone buildings and delivers a seamless expanded gallery experience for visitors. The program of revitalisation works in the existing building is complete and includes relocation of the Capon Research Library and National Art Archive to a new purpose-built, expanded facility within the building that is fully accessible to the public. The Art Gallery Society of NSW Members Lounge on lower level 3 of the existing building has also been expanded and refurnished.

The architects of the new building are SANAA, headed by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa. SANAA is a Tokyo-based, multiple award-winning architectural and design firm. SANAA was chosen as the 2010 Laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, making Sejima only the second woman to win the coveted prize.

SANAA worked with the Australian firm Architectus who were the executive architect, and a broader consultant team on the design of the Sydney Modern Project.

The Art Gallery undertook an invitation-only two-stage design competition in 2014 endorsed by the Australian Institute of Architects and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects. Twelve renowned Australian and international architectural practices submitted design ideas as part of stage one and following an anonymous judging process, five finalists were selected to proceed to the second and final design stage. The competition jury unanimously selected SANAA as the preferred design architects in 2015.

The project was delivered by Infrastructure NSW on behalf of the NSW Government and Art Gallery and in collaboration with Create Infrastructure and the Department of Planning. Richard Crookes Constructions was the builder.

Yes, construction works are now complete by Richard Crookes Constructions. The expanded Art Gallery opened to the public from 3 December 2022.

Construction commenced in November 2019 and was completed prior to public opening in December 2022.

The new building was delivered as a State Significant Development under the Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

Planning consent was received on 20 November 2018 from the Minister for Planning.