NGV Contemporary to transform Southbank Arts Precinct

By Katie Johnson

Southbank will soon be home to Australia’s largest gallery of contemporary art and design with the construction of NGV Contemporary now underway.

The new gallery will sit behind the existing NGV on Southbank Boulevard amid a new 18,000 sqm public garden, linking Arts Centre Melbourne and NGV International on St Kilda Rd to Sturt St.

Southbank Residents’ Association (SRA) president Tony Penna said the project had been “a long time coming” since it was announced by ex-Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley in 2018.

“We were sceptical after the original announcement about how much traction it would get, but now the government has made significant progress the community is very excited,” Mr Penna said.

As part of the project, the new public gardens will transform the densely populated Arts Precinct into a greener space with vibrant plants that change with the seasons.

It will also include a collection of spaces for performances, gathering, installations and festivals that will attract visitors from all over the country.

Melbourne architects HASSELL and New York practice have already begun work on the gardens, which involve decking over Sturt St between City Rd and Southbank Boulevard.

Yarra River Business Association (YRBA) president and Arts Centre Melbourne executive officer Jeremy Vincent said the transformation project would provide “a new meeting and gathering space” on the other side of the Yarra River which would aid Melbourne’s economic recovery.

“The Arts Precinct has been evolving for the past 40 years and after a lot of haphazard planning, this is a chance to put the icing on all of the existing elements,” Mr Vincent said.

“It’s a great opportunity for all the Southbank organisations to come together and provide a wonderful community asset both for Melbourne and Victoria and complement what goes on at Federation Square on the other side of the river.”

NGV Contemporary is part of the first stage of the $1.4 billion Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation project funded by the 2020/2021 Victorian budget.

Later stages of the project will include upgrades at Art Centre Melbourne’s Theatres Building, which will create more than 5000 local construction sector jobs and help drive Victoria’s economic recovery.

Arts Centre Melbourne will also run a new Centre for Creativity, which will house spaces and facilities for Victoria’s small to medium and independent arts sector, a new performing arts gallery and an expanded Australian Music Vault.

Mr Vincent said the Art Centre Melbourne upgrades would elevate the space to a new level and provide support to Melbourne’s artists.

“These new facilities will provide a great creative hub in the city and create a linkage between NGV’s new building, the ballet and the performing arts centre to create a harmonious space,” Mr Vincent said.

When completed, NGV’s new gallery is expected to employ 200 people and bring in thousands of visitors every year.

Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson said the project as a whole would reinstate Melbourne as the cultural capital of Australia.

“NGV Contemporary and the new 18,000 sqm public garden will transform our Arts Precinct into one of the most exciting creative and cultural destinations in the world,” Mr Pearson said.

NGV director Tony Ellwood said, “NGV Contemporary will be a dynamic cultural hub that all Victorians will be proud to call their own. It will present unrivalled opportunity to showcase Australian and international art, design and architecture to the world.” •