In its first exhibition in 1999, the National Portrait Gallery showcased a small collection of acquired and commissioned portraits, with subjects including comedian Barry Humphries, actor David Gulpilil, and musician Nick Cave. Now, the gallery’s collection holds more than 3,000 works. Subjects at the National Portrait Gallery range from politicians to activists, creatives, sports stars, and public figures. The gallery regularly holds temporary exhibitions alongside its permanent collection.
The National Portrait Gallery offers amenities such as a café open daily, a cloakroom, and a research library.
While the permanent collection is open to the public free of charge, tickets (and sometimes advanced bookings) are typically required for temporary exhibitions.
To enhance your visit, the gallery has free Wi-Fi, an app, and an audio guide.
The gallery has helpful amenities for visitors with mobility difficulties or disabilities, including hearing loops in some areas, special sessions for low sensory experiences, audio descriptions of works, and wheelchairs and walkers for loan.
Sketching is permitted within the National Portrait Gallery, but there are rules on allowable drawing materials.
Visitors can comfortably walk to the National Portrait Gallery from other nearby Canberra attractions, such as Questacon, the High Court of Australia, and Old Parliament House. The Nos. 2 and 6 buses run from the City Interchange in Civic to the bus stop on Parkes Place East Lawns, across the road from the gallery. Visitors driving to the gallery will find an underground parking lot directly underneath it.
As the National Portrait Gallery regularly hosts temporary exhibitions, it’s always worth checking the exhibitions schedules, so that you can time your visit accordingly. Weekends and school breaks are when the gallery tends to be at its busiest, so visit on non-holiday weekdays for a quieter experience.
Canberra prides itself on being a major center of culture in Australia. It's home to many museums, and it has a fair share of art galleries, as well. Besides the National Portrait Gallery, visitors to Canberra can explore the city’s art scene at the nearby National Gallery of Australia, and at smaller venues such as the Canberra Glassworks in Kingston and at the Drill Hall Gallery on the Australian National University campus.
