© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196
National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025
Upcoming exhibition
The NPPP is an annual prize for Australian photographers. The year’s most outstanding photographic portrait is awarded a $30,000 cash prize and photographic equipment valued at $20,000 courtesy of our Imaging Partner, Canon Australia. Entries for 2025 are open.
The Immersive World of Thom Roberts
Upcoming exhibition
The Immersive World of Thom Roberts is the first solo exhibition for multidisciplinary contemporary Australian artist Thom Roberts.
Slow Art Day
Event, Saturday 5 April
Slow Art Day is a global event with a simple mission: to help more people discover for themselves the joy of looking at art and its transformative power.
Artist Talk
Thom Roberts
Event, Saturday 12 April
Join us for an artist talk by Thom Roberts to celebrate the opening of his first solo exhibition, The Immersive World of Thom Roberts at the National Portrait Gallery.
APS5 Projects Coordinator – non ongoing
Applications close midnight Sunday 13 April 2025
Employment opportunities
The Projects Coordinator will play a key role in the development and delivery of a new project collaborating with a partner venue in Brisbane, Queensland to develop an exhibition which is both nationally and locally significant. It will be a dynamic role underpinned by project coordination, with an emphasis on liaison and collaboration with Curators, Artists and Community. Strong skills and expertise in this area will be required. The role is based in Canberra but will require some travel, and coordination of artists and community for the delivery of four workshops, in Brisbane, throughout 2025. The workshops are the basis for the co-design of the project and exhibition.
Sensory Kits
Access
Does a young person in your life need additional support to feel at ease in a public space? Our sensory-friendly kits were developed in collaboration with Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia) and are free to borrow during your visit.
Drawn In
Ethan McAlister
Event, Sunday 18 May
Draw while listening to the music of composer and musician, Ethan McAlister, including a special rendition of an original song ‘The Shoreline’. As part of his performance, McAlister will expand on the song through improvisation, experimentation and looped sections to explore the nuances of a single song.
Drawn in
Ava Martina
Event, Sunday 20 April
Listen to the soulful vocals of Ava Martina blended with electric guitar while drawing. Ava will perform a mix of originals and covers spanning generations of artists.
Gallery Three
Current exhibition
Gallery Three features major new acquisitions, collection highlights and favourites.
Portrait Play
Face the music
Event, Selected days from Monday 14 April
Join us for Portrait Play these school holidays as we explore portraits and music. Come and meet the people that live on our walls, discover musical instruments hidden in the portraits and get creative on your journey through the galleries.
Relaxed afternoon
Event, Wednesday 23 April
Explore the Gallery at a quiet time of day. We welcome anyone of any age who would benefit from a more relaxed gallery experience.
Drawn In
The Composer's Canvas
Event, Selected Sundays in Autumn
Join us for a new iteration of Drawn in this autumn. The Composer’s Canvas is a series of drawing sessions once a month at the Gallery.
Story Time
Secrets of the Seasons
Event, Starts Tuesday 15 April
This Story Time we’re exploring the magic of a childhood spent in the Australian bush with the book Secrets of the Seasons, written by Heidi Cooper Smith.
Little Faces
Event, Selected days from Wednesday 9 April
Do we have a treat for the smaller humans in your life! Little Faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.
Costa Georgiadis wins the National Portrait Gallery’s People’s Portrait
5 March 2025
Media
In 2024, the National Portrait Gallery took the extraordinary step of inviting the Australian public to choose the subject of its next commission. Twenty-five years after the Gallery’s first commission – the iconic Nick Cave by Howard Arkley – and nearly 90 commissions later, the people of Australia were invited to make their voice heard. Who did the public most want to see represented in their National Portrait Gallery?
Drop in drawing
Event, Daily from Friday 29 November
Experience the vibrant flowers and foliage in our Western Courtyard through drawing and observation.