The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) will accept an extraordinary $100 million donation courtesy of Lindsay Fox AC and Paula Fox AO towards the construction of NGV Contemporary.
This is the largest cultural gift for a capital program ever made to an Australian art museum by a living donor. Recognising the scale of the donation, NGV Contemporary will be named The Fox: NGV Contemporary.
“This gift is the culmination of many years of passionate support for the NGV, its acquisitions and its wider program,” said National Gallery of Victoria Foundation Board Member, Paula Fox AO. “We hope that our donation will inspire others in supporting this program to make this an icon for the future.”
NGV Contemporary will be built at 77 Southbank Boulevard in Southbank and will showcase contemporary art, design, fashion and architecture of local, national and international significance amid a new 18,000 square metre public space in the heart of a transformed Melbourne Arts Precinct.
The Fox family has a strong history of support for the NGV through generous contributions to many significant acquisitions of major works of art and design over decades. This new donation also builds on a number of contributions to the arts, housing and medical research sectors.
“This is an extraordinary gift to the people of Victoria and we thank Lindsay and Paula Fox and their family for their vision and generosity,” said Minister for Creative Industries, Danny Pearson.
“Philanthropy can transform cities and NGV Contemporary will be a true game-changer – one of the largest galleries dedicated to contemporary art and design in the world and a global architectural icon.”
The new contemporary gallery will become a globally significant landmark and provide unparalleled exhibition and educational spaces, studios and scientific laboratories for conservation of artwork.
Today’s donation complements the existing Ian Potter Foundation commitment of $20 million – building the cornerstone of philanthropic support for the new NGV Contemporary and encouraging further philanthropic support for the project.
More than 11,000 jobs will be created over the life of the project and the gallery will generate hundreds of ongoing creative sector jobs when it opens in 2028. A striking design by Angelo Candalepas and Associates was last month revealed for the site following a competition judged by an eminent jury.
“The Fox family should be commended on their leadership in this sector and for the real, tangible impact that their giving has, and will continue to have, on the lives of so many,” said Tony Ellwood AM, Director National Gallery of Victoria.
NGV Contemporary is part of the Victorian Government’s landmark $1.7 billion investment in the Melbourne Arts Precinct transformation and includes the extensive restoration of the State Theatre. For more information, visit: www.ngv.vic.gov.au for details.
Image: The Fox: NGV Contemporary – render by Darcstudios