“History and Major Contributions to the Arts”

The Sir William Dobell Art Foundation was formed in 1971 according to instructions in the artist’s will which stated that “a Foundation be established for the benefit and promotion of art in NSW”. Funds for the Foundation were raised through the sale of property and art works in William Dobell’s estate.

An initial sum of approximately $260,000 from the artist’s estate was invested and grew over the years due to the inspired management of the original trustees, Franco Belgiorno-Nettis, Charles Lloyd Jones and Tony Clune.

Since its establishment the Foundation has contributed more than $6 million towards exhibitions, acquisitions, commissions, grants and scholarships, as well as education and public programs. This has been achieved through collaborative and enduring partnerships with many arts organisations and public institutions.

The first public venture of the Foundation was an ambitious commission. The painter, John Olsen, was asked to design a large mural for the harbour-side Northern Foyer of the new Sydney Opera House. The mural, titled ‘Salute to Slessor’s 5 Bells’ was based on the poem “Five Bells” by Kenneth Slessor. It has become a much-loved landmark and was an auspicious start to the Foundation’s visionary philanthropy.

‘Salute to Slessor’s 5 Bells’ (1971-73), John Olsen; unveiled when the Sydney Opera House opened in 1973; designed to be viewed after dark, the mural takes viewers into a dream-like underwater nocturnal space.

Major contributions include:

  • The donation of over 1000 sketches and drawings by William Dobell to the Art Gallery of New South Wales;
  • The commission of a panoramic mural by John Olsen for the new Sydney Opera House;
  • The commission and fabrication of a major public sculpture for Martin Place by Bert Flugelman and the donation of the work to the City of Sydney;
  • The funding of the annual Dobell Drawing Prize, an acquisitive award of $25,000, held for 20 years at the Art Gallery of NSW with the winning work donated to the Gallery’s collection. To mark its twentieth anniversary in 2013 a touring exhibition of all 20 prize winners was sent to regional galleries in NSW and the ACT.
  • The continuation of the Dobell Drawing Prize, now held at the National Art School, with a $30,000 prize and the winning work entering NAS’ permanent collection;
  • The Dobell Australian Drawing Biennial, a major exhibition of innovative contemporary drawing, curated and presented by the Art Gallery of NSW with each Biennial exploring a particular theme;
  • Funding of the annual Dobell Drawing School at the National Art School, Sydney, that offers 75 Year 11 students from regional NSW an intensive week of studio programs and drawing workshops;
  • Support for education programs for regional NSW visual arts teachers to enhance their skills and to create professional development opportunities for teachers in non-metropolitan areas;
  • Support for accessible art lectures and lifelong learning programs organised by the Art Gallery Society and held at the Art Gallery of NSW;
  • Patronage of the Australian Centre for Photography (ACP), Paddington, including support for the refurbishment and eventual acquisition of Dobell House by the ACP for a contemporary photography gallery and art centre on Oxford Street;
  • Support of the Gunnery Art Centre and studios, Woolloomooloo, to support Artspace’s artist in residence program; establishment and funding of a residential studio, the Dobell Studio for Visiting Artists;
  • Endowment of the Dobell Chair in Art History at the Australian National University, Canberra;
  • Refurbishment and presentation of the Dobell Room at the New England Museum and Art Gallery, Armidale;
  • Annual scholarships and prizes for individual students at NSW tertiary art institutions including the College of Fine Art, UNSW; Sydney College of the Arts, Sydney University; National Art School and the Julian Ashton Art School, where Dobell first studied;
  • Founding sponsor of ArtExpress, the annual exhibition of outstanding student work from the HSC Visual Arts exams;
  • International lectures in art and art history and the support of art scholarship and research.