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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

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APS5 Bookings & Schools Experience Coordinator

Applications close midnight Thursday 16 October 2025

Employment opportunities

The Bookings and Schools Experience Coordinator is responsible for managing, maintaining and optimising critical business systems including the Book Canberra Excursions Portal (BCE), Artifax venue management software system and the Gallery’s Customer Relationship Management database – Tessitura.

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APS2 Visitor Experience Assistant (multiple positions)

Applications close midnight Monday 13 October 2025

Employment opportunities

The role of Visitor Experience Assistant is part of our Visitor Experience team, which plays a crucial role in creating unforgettable moments, connecting visitors to the collection and acting as a meaning maker for our visitors through interpretations of art. Situated in the Access and Learning section, it is responsible for being the welcoming face that sets the tone for an enriching visit to the Gallery.

The Darling

The Darling

Beards were generally been out for British military men in the 1800s: civilians might have worn them as badges of masculinity, but in the army they were perhaps a bit too close to indiscipline for comfort.

Portrait of Captain James Cook RN

The hand of Captain Cook

Google Arts and Culture

Learning resources

Take a close look at a portrait with a hidden message in its hands. For Year 7 – 9 students.

Radical Restraint
Justice Michael Kirby

Bequests

Support your Portrait Gallery

Leaving a gift in your Will to the National Portrait Gallery is a thoughtful way to ensure an ongoing legacy for the benefit of future generations.

Luther Cora

Luther Cora

Yeah, so it's my daughter. So, I shot this last year, I think on the Gold Coast, we had a little lockdown period, couple of lockdown period.

Hetti

A photographer’s glamorous friends

Nearest & Dearest

Community, arts, activism

Elegance in Exile

Learning Resource

Learning resource archive

Taking a selection of works from our 2012 exhibition Elegance in Exile: Portrait drawing from colonial Australia, this resource aims to introduce the lives of subjects and artists, provide an insight into colonial times in Australia, encourage close examination of portraits and explore how portraits can be used as primary historical documents. For primary students.

Nan and Brian in bed, New York City 1983 by Nan Goldin

Nan Goldin

General content

The photographs by Nan Goldin in Tough and tender are warm images of heartache and hope.

Body Emulsion Detachment, 2016 by Lucas Davidson, video: 14 minutes

Body Emulsion Detachment, 2016

by Lucas Davidson

General content

Finalist, DPA 2016

Portrait of Ali, 2014 by Hoda Afshar

Last week to vote for your favourite portrait

Archived media releases 2015

The National Portrait Gallery’s National Photographic Portrait Prize 2015 will close Monday 8 June 2015, this is the last week to visit the exhibition in Canberra and vote for your favourite portrait in the People’s Choice.

Wayne Quilliam

Wayne Quilliam

The important part about it is is where it was captured. That's the Laura Quinkan Dance Festival, where our remote communities gather every two years to celebrate culture, to share knowledge, and to share stories.

John and Lottie’s wedding, early 1970s Unknown artist

Shifting the definition

Nearest & Dearest

Defiant commitment

The family

Literary lovers’ life liaison

Desire drives forbidden love

Bon Scott & Angus Young, Atlanta, Georgia

Backstage on the way to the top

Living for the moment

Self portrait with gladioli

A very great and stimulating thrill

It's Complicated

Just good friends?

© National Portrait Gallery 2025
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency