Impact

More than $10 million invested in the Australian visual arts.

The Foundation has contributed more than $10 million to the visual arts sector, supporting; exhibitions, commissions, acquisitions, scholarships and public programs, through long-standing partnerships with leading arts organisations and institutions.

The Foundation’s first public venture set the tone for its enduring legacy: the ambitious commission of Salute to Slessor’s Five Bells by John Olsen for the Sydney Opera House. The work has become a much-loved landmark and an early expression of the Foundation’s visionary philanthropy.

Large digital wall display with abstract colorful designs and shapes in an indoor space, above a yellow railing.

John Olsen's Five Bells at the Opera House

Key Contributions

A city street scene with a tall, vertical, reflective sculpture consisting of stacked diamond-shaped elements in the center. Surrounding buildings include modern office towers with glass facades, and there are trees and parked cars along the street.

Herbert Flugelman, Dobell Memorial Sculpture (1979)

  • The donation of over 1000 sketches and drawings by William Dobell to the Art Gallery of New South Wales;

  • Commission of major public artworks, including works by John Olsen and Bert Flugelman

  • Long-term support of the Dobell Drawing Prize, now held at the National Art School

  • Establishment of the Dobell Australian Drawing Biennial held at the Art Gallery of NSW.

  • Funding of the Dobell Drawing School for regional NSW students in partnership with the National Art School.

  • Funding of the workshops for regional art teachers in partnership with the National Art School.

  • Contributions to major institutions including the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Australian National University

  • Scholarships and prizes for emerging artists across NSW tertiary institutions

  • Founding support of ArtExpress, the annual exhibition of outstanding student work from the HSC Visual Arts exams

  • The support of art scholarship and research.

See Our Impact

A woman with curly red hair and red lipstick sitting on an antique sofa with a floral pattern. She is wearing a sheer black blouse with puffed sleeves and a long black skirt. She is sitting sideways with her right arm resting on the back of the sofa, in an art gallery with framed photographs hanging on the white wall behind her. A portion of a quote on a panel is visible on the left side of the image.

Rosemary Lee - Drawing prize winner

Students participating in a life drawing class, standing on easels, drawing from a model in the front of the room, with art supplies and decorative objects on a table in the foreground.

Dobell Drawing School

A woman with black wavy hair wearing a lime green cardigan over a beige top, standing in front of a colorful artwork on a white wall.

Natasha Walsh - 2026 Bunadnon Residency

An older woman with gray, curly hair working on geometric art projects at a table in an art studio.

Helen Eager - 2025 Australian Drawing Biennial

A group of people gathered around a display of woven baskets at an exhibition or museum, with some people examining the crafts closely.

Dobell Exhibition Grant Recipient

People sitting and sketching in an art gallery with artwork on the walls and a sculpture in the center.

Regional Teachers Workshop

A group of young people sitting in a classroom, drawing on papers with inspiration from their tablets. The room has natural light coming through large windows, and the students are focused on their artwork.

Learn more about our Programs, explore our History, or find out how to Support Us.