The Role and Purpose of an Art Gallery

An Art Start Art Activity

A research project

Activity objective: This project is designed to encourage thinking, research, opinion forming and clear communication about the role of an art gallery. 

Teacher Notes

For the purpose of this exercise, the assumption is that the Gallery is a major public gallery such as the NGV. This project could be done as a collaborative or individual activity.

Classroom Project

Begin by brainstorming ideas about ‘What is the role of an art gallery?’ Consider questions such as:

• What do art galleries do and what is unique or important about this?
• Why do people visit art galleries?
• How do galleries today differ to galleries in the past?
• How might galleries of the future differ from galleries today?

Research this topic using at least two different sources. Possible sources of information include:

•  The Explore NGV section of NGV Art Start
• A gallery visit
• Interviewing a range of people to gain different perspectives on this question.
  Identify at least three important points about the role and purpose of an art gallery. Explain and illustrate why each is important. A spider map could be a useful tool to organise your thinking.
  Present ideas in written and visual form (250 words), as a short class presentation (5 minutes) or as a digital story.

Extension activity

Collate the verbal /written responses of different individuals / groups and create an ‘art gallery’ ‘word cloud’ to visually represent the roles of an art gallery identified by the group.

Information and Resources

Victorian Essential Learning Standards Spider Maps – graphic organiser
Knowledge Bank – Department of Education and Early Childhood Development – Digital Stories
Wordle – generating word clouds