Dr Helen Nugent AO, Chairman, National Portrait Gallery Board announced today the appointment of Mr Sidney Myer AM as the inaugural President of the newly established National Portrait Gallery Foundation.
‘This represents another important milestone in the Gallery’s history. The establishment of a Foundation has been an aspiration of the Portrait Gallery Board since the early days of its establishment’, she said.
‘Following the NPGA becoming a Statutory Authority, the Board considered the time was right to move forward and approved the establishment of the National Portrait Gallery Foundation. The Board is delighted that Mr Myer has accepted the appointment. We know that with his experience and guidance, a dynamic new body will thrive.’
Philanthropic support assists the Gallery with vital funding to provide ongoing resources for the acquisition of portraits, education and learning programs, exhibition programs, research, publications, scholarships and many other opportunities.
Dr Nugent said, ‘The Gallery has and continues to enjoy remarkable support from wonderful private individuals who have provided the foundation pillars for the Gallery to grow. We are most grateful for their support and generosity. With the establishment of the Foundation, we are now in a position to further grow philanthropic business to support the Gallery’s aspirations and future growth plans.’
Mr Myer said he was honoured to become the inaugural President of the Foundation and was looking forward to working with the Members of the Foundation to continue to build and expand on philanthropic support through encouraging gifts, donations and bequests to the Gallery. Each Member of the Foundation will be asked to promote the National Portrait Gallery as one of their philanthropic interests and to assist the Gallery to achieve fundraising and community engagement roles.
The newly established National Portrait Gallery Foundation will be launched on Thursday 12 March at a special dinner at the Gallery.
For further information, please contact Jenny Kich at the Gallery
on 02 6102 7026, or jennifer.kich@npg.gov.au
