A new Newcastle Art Gallery will open its doors this weekend after more than 16 years of fundraising and perseverance, ushering in a new era of cultural tourism in the city.
NSW Governor Margaret Beazley AC KC officially cut the ceremonial ribbon today to acknowledge the Gallery's transformation into the largest public gallery in NSW outside of Sydney.
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley, Governor of NSW, and Mr Dennis Wilson (centre) with (L-R) Suzie Galwey, Tim Crakanthorp MP, Jeremy Bath, Minister Yasmin Catley, Sharon Claydon MP and Lauretta Morton celebrate the official cutting of the ribbon today on the opening of the expanded Newcastle Art Gallery.
The civic event was held ahead of three days of community celebration, kicking off with a party in Laman Street on Friday night and the launch of a major exhibition, Iconic Loved Unexpected, on Saturday featuring almost 500 works of art from the Gallery's $145 million collection.
City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said the completion of the expansion project was a landmark moment for the city.
"Newcastle Art Gallery has stood as a cultural beacon since its establishment in 1957 and the official opening of its current building in 1977, however the Gallery's ambition and nationally significant collection long ago outgrew its original building," Mr Bath said.
"The decision to expand followed a sixteen-year journey culminating in a pivotal council vote on July 27 2021, which set the Gallery on an unstoppable path to transformation.
"As City of Newcastle's largest ever capital works project, the expansion is tangible evidence of our commitment to culture and creativity, which ensures Newcastle Art Gallery will takes its place as one of Australia's leading cultural institutions.
"With Queen Elizabeth II overseeing the Gallery's original opening, it's fitting to have the King's representative in NSW - and the Patron of the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation - Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley, Governor of NSW, replicate that role today.
"I thank Her Excellency for doing the honours as we celebrate this significant milestone."
The expansion project was supported by $5 million from the Australian Government under the Regional Recovery Partnership and $5 million from the New South Wales Government under the Regional Recovery Partnership, as well as $13 million from the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation made possible through the Valerie and John Ryan bequest, Margaret Olley Trust, and community fundraising over many years.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King welcomed the milestone moment.
"This grand opening means people in Newcastle and beyond can now experience the gallery's fabulous new exhibition spaces and amenities," Ms King said.
"We know cultural institutions are a major drawcard for travellers and the expansion will create significant flow-on job and economic opportunities for the region."
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon said the expansion will have wide-ranging benefits.
"These upgrades mean the gallery can host our local artists while also attracting global talent well into the future," Ms Claydon said.
"We are supporting projects like this to foster Newcastle as a destination for the arts and make it an even better place to live."
Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said the expansion would drive cultural tourism opportunities.
"The Newcastle Art Gallery has been a cornerstone of the city's cultural life for almost 50 years, and this redevelopment will take it to the next level," Ms Moriarty said.
"The transformation means more of the gallery's collection can be displayed, while expanding its capacity to host major touring exhibitions and deliver a wider range of cultural experiences for visitors and the community.
"This project is a major win for Newcastle and the region, strengthening its position as one of NSW's leading cultural destinations."
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the expanded Gallery offers a cultural and economic boost for the region.
"The Hunter has long been home to some of Australia's most celebrated artists from John Olsen to Margaret Olley and more. We are not short on talent here, and our extraordinary landscape has inspired generations of creativity," Ms Catley said.
"We deeply value our local artists and today's opening reflects the pride we take in nurturing and showcasing that creative spirit.
"This upgrade delivers more than a world-class gallery. It creates a welcoming space for locals to come, while also drawing visitors to our region supporting local jobs, strengthening small businesses and investing in the Hunter's future."
Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation Chair Suzie Galwey said this was a milestone moment for its members and donors, who had shown unwavering support for the expansion project over many years.
"The opening follows many years of philanthropic giving, community passion, advocacy and fundraising for a world class gallery for Newcastle and the Hunter and we now look forward to continuing to work together as a community to help our new Gallery realise its full potential," Ms Galwey said.
The project extended the building's 1977 footprint east along Darby Street and Queen Street to accommodate an additional 1,600 square metres of exhibition space.
It has more than doubled in size from five to 13 galleries, with dedicated areas to exhibit the collection, as well as a new international-standard loading dock and quarantine area needed to manage the safe handling of high value works of art.
Other features of the expansion include a new café and retail shop championing the work of local makers and creators, as well as multi-purpose and educational program spaces that provide additional opportunities for the Gallery to engage with the community.
More than 20,000 people have already visited the Gallery, which has been operating three days a week since the first four new exhibition spaces were opened late last year while the remaining galleries were being prepared for the return of works of art from the collection.
Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton OAM said this was just the tip of the iceberg for the Gallery and its ambitious 2026 exhibition program, which was also announced today.
"The response from the community since our initial reopening in September last year has been overwhelmingly positive as the anticipation builds towards our full reopening this weekend," Ms Morton said.
"Visitors have already travelled from every state and territory in Australia and 35 countries across six continents around the world to experience our reimagined Gallery.
"We're thrilled to begin the new era of the Gallery with the first large-scale presentation of our collection, Iconic, Loved, Unexpected, which brings together national icons, well-loved favourites and unexpected gems, including never before and rarely seen works.
"But this is just a taste of what's to come this year with a really significant program of exhibitions from local, national and internationally renowned artists whose works of art will challenge, delight and inspire visitors."
The ambitious 2026 exhibition program, which was announced today and kicks off in May, features local, national and internationally-renowned artists.
Highlights include Brian Robinson: Multiverse (23 May to 30 August 2026), the first major solo exhibition in NSW by the multi-skilled artist, who grew up on Waiben (Thursday Island) in the Torres Strait. It will feature new and rarely seen works across his multidisciplinary practice.
The Mordant Family Gift: Newcastle Art Gallery Collection (23 May - 8 November 2026) celebrates the incredible gift from Simon Mordant AO and Catriona Mordant AM, the largest number of works of art the leading philanthropists have ever gifted to one institution.
From September, the Gallery will present Muse, the first major Australian survey of globally recognised and Newcastle-based artist Angela Tiatia (26 September 2026 - 21 February 2027). Spanning 20 years of video, photography, and installation, this landmark exhibition is the largest presentation of Tiatia's practice to date.
The year concludes with a world-first inaugural solo exhibition by national icon and painter Anh Do (28 November 2026 - 28 March 2027). This expansive exhibition brings together celebrity portraits, Archibald Prize entries, character sketches from his award-winning books and new landscapes, offering audiences an intimate insight into the artist's distinctive visual world.
