Art Gallery of NSW institutional archive

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Temporary closure
Our research library and archive is relocating to a new purpose-built, expanded facility within the building, which means that the collections will be inaccessible for several months.
We apologise for this disruption to our service but look forward to assisting you in person and remotely in our new premises.
No reference enquiries by phone or online
From 7 November 2020 until mid 2022No access to the library and archive
From 12 December 2020 until mid 2022In the meantime, see our research tools
The Art Gallery of NSW archive holds the administrative records of the Gallery from the 1870s to the present day. These can be grouped in the following categories:
The Trust – includes minutes, reports, resolutions, etc
The Directorate – includes appointment records and director reports and papers
Correspondence – includes government, foreign, general and acquisition correspondence
Finance and administration – includes ledgers, cash books, insurance records, sale books, audit records, etc
Visitors – includes copy and visitor books
Exhibitions – includes exhibition files, installation photographs, proposals, etc
Prizes and scholarships – includes the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes, travelling scholarships, etc
Acquisition, registration and deaccession – includes accession registers, location registers, journals, worksheets, wills and bequests, outward and inward loan registers, copyright, deaccession registers, etc
Conservation – includes reports, ledgers, etc
Photographs – archival photographs of the building, collection and staff
The building – includes architectural plans and drawings, etc
For a complete listing of each category, you’ll need to consult the three-volume guide in the library.