The Art Gallery of New South Wales (NSW) is contemplating raising ticket prices for its exhibitions as part of a broader effort to address significant budgetary challenges. The gallery must find millions of dollars in additional funding while also preparing to lay off approximately 51 employees from its 380-strong workforce, aiming to save $7.5 million in operational costs.
During a recent parliamentary session, Arts Minister John Graham expressed his concerns about potential reductions in the gallery’s operating days. He stated that he “wouldn’t be comfortable” with any decision to limit the gallery’s hours, suggesting he might be open to providing extra support for the institution, which has been a cultural landmark for 154 years.
Protests erupted on Wednesday as around 100 staff and supporters rallied against the proposed job cuts, calling attention to the impact these reductions would have on the gallery and its offerings. Maud Page, the gallery’s director, confirmed that while raising entry fees for ticketed exhibitions is under consideration, the gallery will maintain free general admission to encourage public access.
Currently, visitors pay $25 to access popular exhibitions like the Archibald Prize and Yolnu Power: The Art of Yirrkala. The gallery has kept ticket prices low to ensure that art remains accessible to the community.
At a parliamentary estimate hearing, Graham indicated that the state funding agency Create NSW might reverse some proposed cuts, which could result in a net loss of seven staff members. He refuted claims of preferential treatment towards the Powerhouse Museum, despite reports revealing that the government had allocated an additional $10 million to boost the museum’s wages budget while the Art Gallery of NSW faces staff reductions.
The Public Service Association criticized the government for abandoning the gallery and the broader arts sector. They launched a public campaign titled “Art Attack,” using imagery of Graham’s face superimposed on the Mona Lisa to emphasize the repercussions of the impending job cuts. This initiative aims to highlight not only the situation at the Art Gallery of NSW but also the funding constraints faced by regional galleries and the Australian Design Centre.
In a move to address funding disparities, the government recently announced a partial restoration of funding to select arts organizations that missed out on four-year grants in April. Notably, 31 regional arts and cultural organizations are set to receive a combined investment of $7.5 million over the next two years, with ten regional art galleries allocated $1.8 million.
The Australian Design Centre, which lost $300,000 annually in the previous funding round, will receive $150,000 per year for the next two years. Nevertheless, executive director Lisa Cahill highlighted that this funding is insufficient compared to prior support. She warned that this reduction, coupled with rising operational costs, poses a significant threat to the centre’s sustainability, stating, “It is effectively setting us up to fail, after successfully operating for 61 years.”
Cahill also expressed concerns that, without adequate funding, New South Wales could lack a dedicated craft and design organization, leaving many makers, designers, and craftspeople without a national platform for their work. She indicated that the centre would evaluate its plans for 2026 and beyond in the upcoming weeks.
As the Art Gallery of NSW navigates these financial challenges, the arts community watches closely, aware that the decisions made now will shape the future of cultural institutions in the region.
