CANBERRA.- The National Gallery of Australia officially launched its new Tim Fairfax Learning Gallery and Studio on Friday, 11 October 2019, as a central part of its commitment to expand learning opportunities for Australians across the country, particularly children and young adults.

The new facilities have been made possible by a major gift from National Gallery of Australia Foundation Board director Tim Fairfax AC, a champion of arts education and arts accessibility.

The Tim Fairfax Learning Gallery will host two dedicated exhibitions a year and the Tim Fairfax Studio has been developed as a flexible workspace that supports students, families and people of all ages and abilities in hands-on arts activity. As part of a broader Learning Strategy, the National Gallery is also expanding its digital education footprint and growing its travelling learning programs.

National Gallery of Australia Director Nick Mitzevich said the National Gallery’s aim was to provide all Australians access to the national collection and help learn about diverse stories of a complex nation through art.

“Education is an important part of our agenda and to make an impact in the 21st century we need to have specialised learning facilities in the Gallery, as well as dedicated online and travelling programs to share those learning opportunities with people throughout Australia.

“We are hugely grateful to Tim Fairfax for his foresight in supporting the National Gallery’s commitment to creating education experiences for the next generation.”

Central to the new learning strategy are opportunities to give children, students and families opportunities to engage in creative activity and to produce their own art. Apart from the new Studio, there will be mobile learning studios for guests to get creative in exhibition spaces.

The Tim Fairfax Learning Gallery and Studio are open 7 days a week, free of charge.