How much longer can Sydney’s art galleries remain free to visit?

• Sydney art galleries are facing ongoing financial struggles as State Government funding is restructured
• 82 organisations were due to receive $17 million funding per year for four years via Create NSW; that all changed
• Art Gallery of NSW announced plans to increase the price of ticketed exhibitions last week
• READ MORE: Art Gallery of NSW has opened its 21st free exhibition of the year

Last week, the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) announced that it’s considering a price increase for its ticketed exhibitions. They have categorically ruled out charging for general admission, but realistically, how long can that last?

Across New South Wales, art galleries have been thrown into the spotlight too. The state’s regional galleries have recently faced an abrupt funding shortfall when long-term support from Create NSW was cut after an organisational restructure, leaving many institutions questioning how they would keep programs running and doors open. Emergency funding has since been announced, easing the immediate pressure, but the saga revealed just how fragile the financial foundations of our cultural spaces are.

While this battle has mostly played out in regional towns, the conversation is just as relevant in Sydney. Our city is home to some of Australia’s most visited galleries, many of which have built their reputation on free entry. For decades, the AGNSW and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) have positioned themselves as accessible to all, making world-class art part of everyday life. But with government support covering only a fraction of costs, and operating expenses climbing, cracks are beginning to show.

The MCA’s decision earlier this year to introduce a $20 entry fee — its first in 25 years — was a turning point. It signalled that even the most prominent institutions can no longer rely on donations and limited state funding to bridge the gap.

This isn’t just a debate about budgets. Free access has helped define Sydney’s cultural identity, ensuring that art isn’t only for those who can afford it. Losing that would change the way locals and visitors experience the city. But as regional galleries have already discovered, ideals are hard to sustain without solid financial backing.

So as Sydney celebrates its latest free blockbuster at AGNSW, the question lingers: how much longer can our galleries afford to stay open to everyone, without asking more of the public at the door?

Why fees are emerging

Behind the doors of Sydney’s most visited galleries, the picture looks less secure than the stream of new exhibitions may suggest. Operating costs continue to rise, while government funding has stayed flat. Donations and sponsorship help, but they are unpredictable.

This widening gap forces institutions to reassess their financial models.

For the MCA, the the numbers were no longer adding up. At the start of the year, it became the first major Sydney institution to introduce a general admission fee in more than two decades. Visitors now pay $20 to enter, or $35 for full access including major exhibitions, with concessions available and under-18s still free.

General admission charges are designed to provide a steady income stream, giving the gallery breathing room to plan ahead rather than scrambling to plug budget holes. But it didn’t go down well.

The Art Gallery of NSW faces a similar equation. Free entry to its permanent collections remains in place, but revenue from major exhibitions is increasingly important — and the gallery has already signalled that ticket prices are likely to rise.

In short, fees are emerging not because institutions want them, but because the current mix of funding sources is no longer enough. The dilemma is clear: either galleries find new ways to generate revenue, or they scale back the exhibitions and programs that make them worth visiting in the first place.

Which other Sydney art galleries charge?

Thankfully for Sydney’s art lovers, the large majority of the city’s galleries are still free to enjoy for now.

In my research, I could only find one other space beyond the major institutions that charges for certain offerings: Campbelltown Arts Centre. While general admission is free, ticketed events, workshops, and programs do come with a cost — though I couldn’t find any ticketed exhibitions listed, only free shows.

At the bigger end of the scale, the Art Gallery of NSW will have hosted 31 free-to-visit exhibitions and displays by the end of the year. Its ticketed exhibitions, meanwhile, average $35 per adult and $18 per teen, with under-12s entering free. The Museum of Contemporary Art charges $20 for general admission, or $35 for full access including major exhibitions, and under-18s enter free.

So a visit to either of our major galleries in their entirety comes in at $35 per adult.

Which to me, a self-confessed lover of the arts (and especially galleries), seems reasonable considering the scale, quality and programming on offer.

But that’s not the case for everyone; especially in the current climate…

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Institutions still holding on to free entry and shows

Beyond the city’s biggest galleries, there are still many that are free to visit. In fact, some of the city’s most vibrant spaces continue to open their doors for free, keeping art accessible to everyone from curious first-timers to seasoned collectors.

Head north to Rochfort Gallery or the Manly Art Gallery & Museum, a long-time local favourite by the harbour, or wander into Chippendale’s White Rabbit Gallery, where one of the world’s most significant collections of contemporary Chinese art fills a converted warehouse.

Smaller commercial and independent spaces such as Ames Yavuz, Saint Cloche, COMA, Curatorial + Co, Chalk Horse, Olsen Gallery, Michael Reid, and .M Contemporary invite visitors to explore work from emerging and established artists, no ticket required.

For those who like their art with a side of adventure, China Heights and STATION are known for their edgy programs, while Wentworth Galleries lean into more traditional and collectible pieces. The Aboriginal Art Galleries across the city showcase extraordinary First Nations talent, offering an important cultural perspective that’s freely accessible.

Sydney also boasts a handful of institutions and public spaces that have resisted charging at the door. The Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney is a must for history and culture lovers (being attached to a major university certainly helps with funding). The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre and the NAS Gallery at the National Art School offer free access to community-driven and student-led projects. Even The Garden Gallery in the Royal Botanic Gardens provides an unexpected art encounter alongside a walk among the greenery.

Artspace in Woolloomooloo champions experimental and contemporary practice, and has been welcoming visitors to The Gunnery since 1992. In November 2024, Artspace secured a $350,000 increase in funding from Create NSW, but it also reported a -$123,368 deficit its 2024 annual report. Once again, the future seems uncertain.

How long can they — and the other galleries — maintain free admission?

The outlook

Free Sydney art galleries are a cornerstone of the city’s cultural life, offering world-class art to everyone. But even institutions like the Art Gallery of NSW and Artspace face mounting financial pressures. Rising costs, limited government support and relying on unpredictable donations mean that ticketed exhibitions and entry fees are becoming increasingly common, even among galleries that have long been free.

The challenge now is balancing accessibility with sustainability. For Sydney to retain its open, vibrant arts scene, galleries will at least need active community support. How do you maintain support while also asking people to pay? It’s what arts institutions around the world have been battling for decades.

While NSW Government’s $15.4 million two-year funding injection is fantastic news for arts organisations — and it is a huge amount of money — only 62 organisations will reap the benefits of it. In May, 82 were promised funding, before Create NSW was restructured. What happens now for those 20+ organisations now without funding? Forget about free entry, their entire existence now hangs in the balance.

The future of Sydney’s art institutions looks uncertain, but one thing is clear: their survival hinges on how fiercely we choose to support them.