Thursday, 24 March 2022

NGV Contemporary

Ms TAYLOR (Southern Metropolitan) (10:44): I recently attended the launch of the design of NGV Contemporary. It will be Australian designed and Australian made, creating thousands of local jobs and becoming an iconic reference for our great city on the global stage. When I was sitting there getting ready for the launch and seeing the design, it made me reflect on what visiting an exhibition is all about and how you cultivate that love of the arts. I was thinking about the NGV itself and how as a child my parents would take my brother and me there. The first thing we would do was throw a coin in the pond and we would make a wish and then we would see the beautiful waterfall at the front. Those kinds of experiences stay with you, so it is not only going inside and seeing a beautiful exhibition; it is that whole experience. Then you might have afternoon tea after.

That is why it is so important that governments like our Andrews Labor government invest in this magnificent building and design and area for the future of our great city. NGV Contemporary is part of our Labor government’s landmark $1.7 billion investment in the Melbourne arts precinct transformation, which includes extensive restoration of the State Theatre. I was fortunate enough to be sitting next to Angelo Candalepas—his company had the winning design at the end of the day—and I felt teary as it came on the screen. It bodes well.