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The Art Gallery of New South Wales has announced that its new $344 million ‘Sydney Modern’ expansion is to open on 3rd December.

Set to nearly doubling the museum’s exhibition space, the new building, which includes a permanent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander gallery is connected to the existing museum by a public art garden.

Announcing the December opening, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, said the once in a generation project will attract the world’s biggest touring art exhibitions to Sydney, stating “this expansion to one of our state’s flagship public institutions will drive tourism, create jobs, and ensure New South Wales remains on everyone’s ‘must see’ list.

“It will allow many artworks currently in storage to be displayed, and also provides a prominent new destination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.

“This is a major investment in art, artists and culture, and sends a strong signal of confidence for a vibrant and exciting future.”

Art Gallery of NSW Director, Michael Brand said the expansion will deliver many firsts for art, artists, and audiences, noting “our new art museum campus brings together art, architecture and landscape in spectacular new ways providing visitors with art and cultural experiences only possible here.

‘We can’t wait to share our dazzling new stage for art.

“It will be a place of generosity and inclusion where contemporary art is shown in context with historical art - a place where everyone is welcome.”

As well as the new building by Pritzker Prize-winning architects SANAA, with executive architect Architectus, the Art Gallery’s historic original building has also been updated by Australian architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, including a complete reinstallation of the collection.

The new building features galleries for 21st century art and is home to a vast underground art space for special commissions and performances, repurposed from a decommissioned Second World War naval oil tank.

Gallery Deputy Director and Director of Collections, Maud Page advised “the Sydney Modern Project allows us to engage our audiences and work with our artists in thrilling new ways.

‘When we open in December visitors will experience art right across our campus - indoor and outdoor - from the inaugural installations in our new building to the completely re-installed galleries in our existing building,” Page added.

“Our collection will be accentuated by bold and compelling new art commissions that contribute to important global conversations of our time from our place here in the Asia Pacific.”

The Sydney Modern expansion is still on track, with construction of the new building by Richard Crookes Constructions close to completion.

Images: The Art Gallery of NSW’s Sydney Modern expansion is set to open in December (top), how the lower level of the Sydney Modern expansion will look when open (middle) and part of the expansion has been repurposed from a decommissioned Second World War naval oil tank (below, showing Taloi Havini's Habitat work). All images courtesy of the Art Gallery of New South Wales

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