Biennale of Sydney Archive Gifted to the National Art Archive, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2015

The Biennale of Sydney Archive Project began in 2015 when over 40 years of records were donated to the National Art Archive at the Art Gallery of NSW to be organised, indexed and digitised. The Gallery and the Biennale are working in partnership on this historic project.

More than 1000 boxes make up the Archive, which includes artists’ files, images, correspondence, media clippings and photographic and video documentation that stretches back to the inaugural Biennale exhibition in 1973.

Locating the Biennale Archive at the Gallery ensures that it will be available to future researchers, with elements accessible to the public through both the Gallery and Biennale websites.

Professional archiving has been made possible by a generous gift from Transfield Holdings, the Biennale’s principal partner for over 40 years. We celebrate the vision of Franco Belgiorno-Nettis (1915–2006), Founding Patron and founder of Transfield, who created the Biennale of Sydney in 1973 and whose company provided the continuous financial and administrative support that firmly established it.

A public program, titled Biennale Archive Stories, started in December 2016 and continues into 2018. It captures first-hand experiences from participating artists, curators and patrons. Recordings of Biennale Archive Stories events can be accessed at biennaleofsydney.art

The Archive display within the 21st Biennale of Sydney exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW was initiated by Artistic Director, Mami Kataoka, to provide visitors with an overview of the range of material it contains and also to stimulate further discussion. It offers a snapshot of the Biennale and its many milestones over the past 45 years and invites us to consider the role of the Biennale in the future.

Presentation at the 21st Biennale of Sydney was made possible with generous assistance from Transfield Holdings

Presentation at the 21st Biennale of Sydney was made possible with generous support from Transfield Holdings