The Sydney Modern Project, set to almost double the exhibition space of the Art Gallery of New South Wales and attract exhibitions from across the globe, has reached a construction milestone.
Premier Dominic Perrottet and Minister for the Arts Don Harwin visited the site to mark the construction reaching its full height with a “topping out” ceremony today.
The Premier said the $344 million expansion would attract the world’s biggest touring collections and divert tourists from Brisbane and Melbourne to our city.
“Sydney is the cultural capital of Australia, this major expansion of our art gallery will attract tourists from around the world,” Mr Perrottet said.
“New York is synonymous with The Met, this investment will make our gallery a similarly iconic global attraction.
“Sydney Modern ensures our state remains on everyone’s ‘must see’ list, bringing jobs and business opportunities for our tourism industry, forming a key part of our vision for the future.”
The expansion will allow many warehoused artworks to be displayed and also provides a prominent new destination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks.
Mr Harwin said the transformation that is taking place at the Art Gallery of NSW is extraordinary.
“We are investing in our future by creating a world-class destination for art and culture. The remarkable Sydney Modern Project cements our city’s position as Australia’s arts capital,” Mr Harwin said.
“The project is a major investment in art, artists and culture and sends a strong signal of confidence for a vibrant and exciting future.”
Together with the NSW Government’s $244 million in funding, the Art Gallery has raised more than $100 million to support the expansion project.
It is the largest government and philanthropic arts partnership of its kind in Australia to date.
Art Gallery of New South Wales director Dr Michael Brand said it’s exciting to see the building take shape.
“We’re creating an indoor-outdoor campus set in the stunning landscape overlooking Sydney Harbour, on Gadigal Country, with exceptional art experiences for everyone to enjoy and only possible in Sydney,” Dr Brand said.
The Sydney Modern Project is Australia’s first museum to be awarded the highest rating for sustainable design with a 6-Star Green Star rating by the Green Building Council of Australia.
The project is expected to inject more than $1 billion into the NSW economy over 25 years and is expected to double the number of annual visits from one million to two million per year.
