NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK COLLECTION Highlights of Australian Ar t
P R E FA C E In the early 1970s, NAB began to acquire Australian artworks that
disasters, and support long-term recovery and resilience work. As NAB
celebrated the diversity and depth of modern Australian artistic
Group Chief Operating Officer, Les Matheson, notes
vision. Over the subsequent decades, NAB’s collection has given art appreciators a unique glimpse into some of the very best examples of
‘We’re constantly driven to find new ways to help our customers and
our country’s contemporary art. Featuring more than 2,000 works,
communities prosper. Proceeds from this sale will go back into the
the collection includes examples from some the country’s most
community, helping the NAB Foundation provide grants over coming
recognised artists including Frederick McCubbin, Sidney Nolan, Arthur
years. At a time when Australia’s climate is changing, communities and
Streeton, John Brack, Jeffrey Smart and John Olsen.
the environment face increased risk from natural disasters, these funds will allow us to do even more to help.
However, while many of these artworks are quite historically important, they are not significant to NAB’s history. Although the art is appreciated,
By redirecting these profits into the NAB Foundation, the funds will
it is clearly not core to NAB’s role as a bank supporting customers,
contribute to the Foundation’s grant programs to further safeguard
and accordingly, in early 2021 NAB made the decision to sell the vast
local and regional communities and fund projects that will support our
majority of the Australian art collection and reinvest funds back into the
economic recovery and ensure Australia is more prepared for natural
community via the NAB Foundation.
disasters and climate change.
This builds on the NAB Ready Together program to support Australians
We hope this work will help the communities and customers we serve
before, during and after natural disasters. All proceeds of the sale will
and make a real difference at a critical time for the nation’s economic
be donated to the NAB Foundation supporting community grants that
recovery from COVID-19 and the extreme bushfire and weather events
help prepare people, communities and our environment for natural
of 2020.’
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