Established in the year of 1874, Art Gallery of New South Wales is a historic architecture built to unveil the fine arts through programs, art classes, and regular exhibitions. Present in the picturesque location of The Domain in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, this state-of-the-art gallery happens to be the largest art museum in the country. The art museum showcases unique and amazing collections from Australian to European and Asian cultures.
About The Art Gallery Of New South Wales
Offering epic views of Sydney and the harbor, this art gallery houses several ancient and modern works of some of the finest Australian and European artists of the 19th century. The museum also holds contemporary works of Asia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Every year this art gallery witnesses over 1 million people from all over the world and the best thing about this art gallery is, everyone can visit the museum for free.
The gallery also conducts various themed based scholarship programs for children under five and interesting family programs to express their creative thoughts. The one favorite activity among the children aged 3-5 years is the “Tours for Tots” program held on the last Tuesday and Thursday of every month. The workshop organized on the first and third Sunday of every month can be taken advantage of by avid art lovers irrespective of their ages. Young artists passionate about art and cultural folks can also make use of this platform to exhibit their creativity and hidden talents.
Art Gallery of New South Wales opening hours:
Opening hours: 10 am to 5 pm every day. On Wednesday, the gallery is open from 10 am to 10 pm for enjoying live music, talks, films, displays, exhibitions and much more.
Entry charge: FREE
Gallery shop: The shop remains open from 10 am to 4.45 pm every day and on Wednesdays, it is open till 8.45pm.
Opening hours: The study room remains open from 10 am to 4 pm (Monday to Friday)
Edmund and Joanna Capon Research Library: Featuring extensive archives and files from Australian art societies, competitions, prizes, and art institutions, the library is visited by a good number of researchers and art fans every year. You are also allowed to carry your digital camera for clicking some photos and there is an exclusive audio-visual room for getting deeper insights about all the works through DVDs, videotapes and audiotapes. Free WIFI access is an additional facility.
Opening hours: The library can be accessed on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 am to 4 pm; Wednesday from 10 am to 6:30 pm and on Saturday from 12 noon to 4 pm. No prior booking is required for visiting the library.
Art Gallery Of New South Wales Restaurants
After visiting the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, one can also check out some of these restaurants. Read on, to know what is close by to the gallery.
1. Chiswick Restaurant
Serving ravishing contemporary dishes with an a-la-carte menu, the swanky Chiswick Restaurant located on the ground floor of this art gallery is indeed a major highlight. Another major attraction is the epic kitchen garden, where most of the ingredients used in cooking various mouth-watering dishes are grown.
Opening hours: From Monday to Friday, the restaurant will open from 12 pm 3.30pm; 12noon 9 pm on every Wednesday and on weekends (Saturday & Sunday) you are welcomed from 12 noon 4 pm.
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2. Cafe At The Gallery
After exploring the art gallery, visitors can relax in stunningly decorated cafeteria placed on lower level 1 of the gallery. From freshly prepared snacks to mouth-watering sandwiches and hot coffee, the cafeteria is indeed a treat to pamper your hungry taste buds. Spend some time at this cafe, and sip on their freshly brewed coffee.
Opening hours: The cafe is open from 10 am to 4:30 pm daily except on Wednesdays you can access the cafe from 10 am to 9:30 pm.
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3. Pop-up Bar
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You might feel hungry after exploring this amazing art gallery, and to fulfill your hunger, you do not need to go too far. For enjoying lip-smacking drinks and snacks, do visit the pop-up bar at the entrance of the art gallery which remains open on every Wednesday night.
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Art Gallery of New South Wales Hermitage
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Masters of modern art from the Hermitage is undeniably a paradise for art lovers. The Hermitage is famous for exhibiting magnificent paintings of the legendary Spanish painter Pablo Picasso and French artist Henri Matisse. You can also find several impressive paintings by celebrated artists like Monet, Malevich, Denis, Kandinsky, Bonnard, Pissarro, Gauguin and Cézanne to name a few.
Some of the famous paintings at the Hermitage include Game of bowls by Henri Matisse, Great pine near Aix by Paul Cezanne, The month of Mary by Paul Gauguin, Poppy fields by Claude Monet and Table in a cafe and Woman with a fan by Pablo Picasso.
This historic art gallery is undoubtedly a place full of inspirational paintings and collections of diverse cultures from Western to Asian art and various different communities of Australia including those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.
Australian art collection: This art collection exhibits innovative paintings & collections from the early 1800s, that includes works by renowned artist like Charles Conder, WC Piguenit, Frederick McCubbin, Eugene von Guerard, Bertram Mackennal, Tom Roberts and Arthur Streeton. It also highlights some of the exclusive works of modern artists of the 20th-century such as Fred Williams, John Brack, Brett Whiteley, Grace Cossington Smith, William Dobell, Russell Drysdale, Lloyd Rees and Jeffrey Smart to list a few.
Asian art collection: Impressive with a lovely Japanese tea room on the lower floor and an imposing glass pavilion on the upper floor, the Asian art collection gallery is home to various ground-breaking works reflecting the ancient grandeur of Asian art and culture. A souvenir of ceramics and bronzes by the Government of Japan during the Sydney International Exhibition 1879 were the first masterpieces open for public display.
Western art collection: This art gallery holds an extensive collection of works by the famous Italian painters of 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Contemporary works of Dutch, French and British Victorian art are also displayed here. From the stunning works of Pablo Picasso to the modern arts of Peter Paul Rubens, all can be found under one roof. However, most of the space has been occupied by the famous works of modern British artists of the 20th century such as Alberto Giacometti, Giorgio Morandi, Georges Braque, Pierre Bonnard and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner.
Public Transits To Reach The Gallery
By bus: You can easily reach the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australia with the help of Sydney Explorer bus which halts at 21 different locations in Sydney.
By Rail: St James and Martin Place are the closest railway stations to this art gallery located just within 15 and 20 mins respectively.
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If you are a history buff and a true art lover, then do pay a visit to the historic and remarkable Art Gallery of New South Wales housing groundbreaking paintings, sketchbooks and printing blocks by some of the legendary artists across the globe. So, on your trip to Australia, do not forget to pay a visit to this historical monument in the heart of the country
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An everyday Grammar Nazi and a staunch orophile, Smriti is a sometime-writer and a full-time dreamer. She lives by the motto Aut viam inveniam aut faciam – Carthaginian general Hannibal’s famous words that translate to “I will either find a way or make one”. When not in her books, she dreams of the world where chocolate chip cookie dough is diet food.
