Arts, sport & collectionsStatutory authorityExists today
National Portrait Gallery of Australia
NPGA · National Portrait Gallery
1 July 2013 – present
National collecting institution in Canberra that develops, exhibits and tours the national portrait collection of people who have shaped Australia.
How it came into existence
Established as a statutory authority on 1 July 2013 under the National Portrait Gallery of Australia Act 2012, taking over the collection, staff and building of the non-statutory National Portrait Gallery.
- National portrait collection
- Gallery building and exhibitions
Legislation: National Portrait Gallery of Australia Act 2012
Changes during its life
- 18 September 2013Moved with the arts functions (Ministry for the Arts) to the Attorney-General's Department.
- 21 September 2015Moved with the arts functions to the Department of Communications and the Arts.
- 1 February 2020Moved with the arts functions to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
Main functions
- development and care of the national portrait collection
- exhibitions and touring programs
- portrait prizes
- research, public and education programs
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.
- Type of body
- Corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts
- Accountable authority
- National Portrait Gallery of Australia Board – National Portrait Gallery of Australia Act 2012 sections 6 and 13, with reference to section 21 note (membership section 15)
- ABN
- 54 742 771 196
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))