Interim Council of the Australian National Gallery
Australian National Gallery Interim Council · National Gallery Interim Council
1968 – 1975
Non-statutory council appointed by the Commonwealth to guide the planning and construction of the national art gallery in Canberra and, after it was reconstituted in 1974, to run the gallery's affairs and its growing national collection until the gallery was given statutory form.
How it came into existence
Appointed in 1968 by the Gorton government, with Sir Daryl Lindsay as chairman, to guide the planning and construction of the Australian National Gallery in Canberra; James Mollison carried out the duties of director from 1971. After the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board was dissolved in 1973, acquisitions for the national collection were overseen by an Acquisitions Committee, and in 1974 the Whitlam government appointed a new Interim Council, chaired by Richard Crebbin, which took over from that committee and ran the gallery's affairs pending legislation.
Changes during its life
- 31 May 1971Moved with the other Commonwealth arts functions to the Department of the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts.
- 19 December 1972Arts functions returned to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet under the Whitlam government.
- 1974Reconstituted by the Whitlam government as a new Interim Council chaired by Richard Crebbin, which took over from the Acquisitions Committee and ran the gallery's affairs until the National Gallery Act was passed.
- Acquisition of works of art for the national collection
The role passed on the board's dissolution in 1973 to an interim Acquisitions Committee, which the reconstituted Interim Council took over in 1974.
How it ended
Superseded in 1975 by the Australian National Gallery, established as a body corporate governed by a Council under the National Gallery Act 1975, which took over the collection and staff it had assembled.
- Development and care of the national art collection
- Planning of the national gallery and its building
Main functions
- Planning of the national gallery and its building
- Acquisition of works of art for the national collection (from 1974)
- Care and management of the national art collection before the gallery opened
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Lineage
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Sources
Government records and websites
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.