Darwin art gallery development up for community review

The Northern Territory Government has decided that the future use and operation of the Northern Territory Art Gallery project site will be subject to a public Expression of Interest (EoI) process to identify the most cost effective and impactful use of the building, which is currently under construction. 

NT Treasurer Bill Yan and NT Arts Minister Jinson Charls announced yesterday the government would put the Northern Territory Art Gallery project - also known as the State Square gallery - up for community review.

The NT Government highlighted the significant underfunding associated with the original construction cost estimates from the former government noting it is now estimated to be more than $100 million over budget.

Minister Charls said the NT Government is committed to completing the building but adds “rather than simply accept what we have inherited, we want to go to market and ensure we are achieving the most effective model going forward for the benefit of all Territorians.

Minister Charls said he had spoken with a representative at the Museum and Art Gallery NT (MAGNT) board on Wednesday to advise them they too could lodge an EOI adding “we look forward to working with them and with the other arts industry members.”

Minister Charls said during a recent visit to Melbourne he had been impressed by The Lume, billed as the world’s largest digital art gallery and advised “by seeking proposals from multiple potential operators, with a view to selecting a model of operation that best contributes to rebuilding the economy and restoring the Territory’s lifestyle, we can be open to alternative funding opportunities outside of the Northern Territory Government.”

The open EoI process will allow interested parties to apply to operate the site as part of a competitive process and, therefore, articulate in detail the potential costs involved to operate, the benefits to the community and specific model used to maximise the possibilities the site offers.

Aside from The Lume, the Government had no other suggestions about how the space should be used.

The current NT Government's announcement means all three of the former Labor Government's art gallery proposals have been scrapped or now placed under review. Access to the Northern Territory Art Gallery project’s information page has been removed from the NT Government website.

The Northern Territory Art Gallery was due for completion at the end of 2026.

Image. State Square Art Gallery by Ashford Architects with Clare Design and Hully Liveris. The Northern Territory government in 2021 submitted a development application for the new State Square art gallery designed by Darwin practice Ashford Architects with Clare Design and Hully Liveris, revealing the design for the first time. Lindsay Clare, director and co-founder of Clare Design, said the gallery would promote contemporary dialogues across Indigenous, non-Indigenous and Asian art while facilitating high-profile events, competitions and festivals.