The Victorian Government and National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) are grateful for the extraordinary generosity of Lindsay Fox AC and Paula Fox AO, who today pledged $100 million towards NGV Contemporary – the largest cultural gift for a capital program ever made to an Australian art museum by a living donor.
The gift towards NGV Contemporary coincides with the 85th birthday of Mr Fox and is offered in recognition of NGV Contemporary’s important role in enriching the cultural and civic lives of all Victorians. This unprecedented act of philanthropy reflects the Fox family’s long-held commitment to uplifting the Victorian community through their wide-ranging philanthropic giving and fundraising.
In recognition of the Fox family’s extraordinary generosity, NGV Contemporary will be named The Fox: NGV Contemporary.
The Hon. Danny Pearson, Minister for Creative Industries, said: ‘This is an extraordinary gift to the people of Melbourne and Victoria and we thank Lindsay and Paula Fox and their family for their vision and generosity. Philanthropy can transform cities and NGV Contemporary will be a true game-changer. It will be one of the largest galleries dedicated to contemporary art and design in the world and a global architectural icon.’
Paula Fox AO, NGV Foundation Board member, said: ‘On behalf of my husband and family, as long-time supporters of the Gallery, we believe in the vital work of the NGV in making the arts accessible to the wider community and we know NGV Contemporary will be a place for all Australians to enjoy the best we have to offer. This gift is the culmination of many years of passionate support for the NGV, its acquisitions and its wider program. We believe in the impact of the incredible work of the Gallery, which brings joy to our community through art and design. We hope that our donation will inspire others in supporting this program to make this an icon for the future.’
Janet Whiting AM, President of the Council of Trustees, NGV, said: ‘In the spirit of transformative gifts like the Felton Bequest to the NGV, this is one of those extraordinary acts of philanthropy that can define an institution. On behalf of the NGV, we sincerely thank the Fox family for this unparalleled donation.’
Leigh Clifford AO, Chairman, NGV Foundation, said: ‘The Fox family have shown incredible generosity towards a large number of NGV acquisitions and appeals over many years, as well as supporting numerous charitable causes close to their hearts across Australia. However, this outstanding gift towards the NGV’s new contemporary art and design gallery sets an entirely new benchmark in philanthropic giving. This ground-breaking gesture is a testament to their leadership in the community, providing a significant start to the Gallery’s fundraising efforts and encouraging others to get involved.’
Tony Ellwood AM, Director, NGV, said: ‘We are truly astonished by this extraordinary act of giving from the Fox family and we are overwhelmed by the incredible generosity and support of Lindsay and Paula Fox. The Fox family should be commended on their leadership in this sector and for the real, tangible impact that their giving has, and will continue to have, on the lives of so many. We are delighted to see the vision for NGV Contemporary supported by the Fox family, who are long-time champions of the NGV. This gift is a testament to their strong sense of civic pride and their belief in the accessibility of the arts to all members of our community. This awe-inspiring donation will ensure that Victoria remains a centre of artistic excellence for many generations to come and that The Fox: NGV Contemporary will be a source of community pride for all Victorians, as well as a meaningful cultural legacy for the Fox family.’
This gift builds upon the Fox family’s significant contributions to the arts, housing and medical research sectors. The Fox family have been valued supporters of the NGV for almost 20 years and have generously contributed to many significant acquisitions of major works of art and design, with a focus on both historic and contemporary international art and Indigenous Australian art.
In addition to their support of the NGV Collection, the family have also made generous contributions towards the presentation of the popular NGV Kids exhibitions, reflecting their passionate support of initiatives for children and families.
Located at 77 Southbank Boulevard, Melbourne, The Fox: NGV Contemporary will be designed by Angelo Candalepas and a team of 20 leading architecture, design and engineering firms from around Victoria and Australia. This new 30,000 square metre Victorian landmark will celebrate the central role of art and design in contemporary life and features dramatic arched entries, a spherical hall, state-of-the art exhibition galleries and an expansive rooftop terrace with stunning vistas of Melbourne.
The Fox: NGV Contemporary is the centrepiece of the Victorian Government’s $1.7 billion Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation. The Fox: NGV Contemporary will unify the surrounding Melbourne Arts Precinct with pathways through the building that connect the new public parklands to Southbank.
The Fox: NGV Contemporary will strengthen the NGV’s reputation for promoting local and international art and design at its major pre-existing galleries – NGV International on St Kilda Road and The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square.
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