Australia’s National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) will build a new gallery to present Australian and international contemporary art, design and architecture. When complete, at over 30,000 sqm (320,000 sq ft), NGV Contemporary will be the country’s largest gallery dedicated to contemporary art and design, with over 10,000 sqm (100,000 sq ft) of gallery space. Design will be led by an Australian architectural team, appointed by competition.

The Victorian Government’s commitment to the building was announced as part of a AUD$1.46 billion (more than USD$1 billion) investment in the transformation of Melbourne’s Arts Precinct. A large part of that funding will be dedicated to the build of NGV Contemporary, which will sit in a new, elevated 18,000 square meter (194,000 sq ft) public garden, connecting the new gallery to other cultural offerings in the district. The investment in the Precinct also includes upgrades to neighboring facilities as well as shared infrastructure.

Founded in 1861, NGV is the oldest (and largest) gallery in Australia, and in recent years -- especially under the leadership of director Tony Ellwood -- the Gallery has had renewed focus on celebrating contemporary art and design. NGV realizes these ambitions in many ways including with NGV Triennial (December, 19 2020 – April 18, 2021) . The exhibition features more than 80 projects by 100+ artists, designers, and collectives from 33 countries, including Daniel Arsham, Aida Muluneh, Jeff Koons, Kengo Kuma, Atong Atem, JR, Erez Nevi Pana, Pierre Mukeba, and more. Many of these projects will enter the NGV collection for presentation at NGV Contemporary.

Ellwood said, "NGV Contemporary will be a dynamic cultural hub that all Victorians will be proud to call their own and present an unrivalled opportunity to showcase Australian and international art, design and architectural practice to the world."