Lindsay Fox donates $100m to new NGV contemporary gallery

A new Victorian contemporary art gallery will be named in honour of billionaire Lindsay Fox after he and his wife, Paula, made a whopping donation to the NGV.

Victoria’s new contemporary art gallery will be named after billionaire Lindsay Fox and his family after a $100m donation to the project.

Creative Industries Minister Danny Pearson on Tuesday revealed the massive donation for Mr Fox and his wife, Paula, believed to be one of the single biggest for a gallery project of its kind.

In return, it will be known as the Fox NGV When it is built.

Paula and Lindsay Fox have donated $100m to the NGV. Picture: Getty Images

The gallery will be built behind the existing NGV international.

When designs were released it was touted as Melbourne’s answer to the Eiffel Tower.

It forms part of a larger $1.7bn revamp of the state’s art precinct.

Mr Fox is the founder of major logistics company Linfox.

The announcement was also made on his birthday.

“There’s a great tradition of philanthropy in our state which has helped changed Victoria’s landscape,” Mr Pearson said.

“Our creative and cultural offering sets us apart. It tells the world who we are and it makes victoria a place people want to live and visit.

“The new NGV contemporary will be a jewel in Victoria’s crown.

“It’ll be one of the greatest cultural projects in Australian history.

An artist’s impression of the winning concept design for NGV Contemporary by Angelo Candalepas and Associates. Picture: Darcstudio

“As Victorians through and through, the Fox family are committed to giving back to their community

“It may be Lindsay’s birthday, but what an incredible gift for Victoria

“It won’t be passing another Fox. It’s coming to the Fox.”

Mrs Fox said the new gallery would benefit all Australians.

“We believe the impact of the incredible work of the gallery brings joy to our community,” she said.

NGV director Tony Ellwood said: “To Lindsay: While it may be your birthday, this is without a doubt the best birthday present the NGV has ever had”.

he Fox family’s investment will help transform Melbourne’s art scene into a world-renowned attraction, Mr Ellwood said.

“When we travel to London, Paris and New York, we expect major contemporary galleries. We don’t have those in our region. (But) now we will,” he said.

“In 2028, The Fox will actually transform the way that we start to view culture in our own region.”

The NGV Contemporary is expected to attract a million visitors a year facing south. Picture: Darcstudio

Mr Ellwood called on other philanthropists to support the project after the Fox family’s “empowering” donation.

The gallery director was reluctant to put a figure on how much funding the NGV was still seeking but said it was plotting an ambitious campaign for additional support.

“We’re going to see what we can do. We’re saying this needs to be the biggest campaign we’ve ever run, and probably the biggest arts and cultural campaign ever run in the country,” Mr Ellwood said.

“We’ve got some time, we’ve got til 2028 to open this building, but this is the most perfect kickstart you could imagine.”

Mr Pearson said the donation would help create 11,000 jobs over the course of the new gallery’s construction, while it is expected to attract a million visitors a year once completed.

“This investment today will mean that for generations to come, people will be coming to The Fox,” Mr Pearson said.

“This investment, on Lindsay’s birthday, is a wonderful, generous birthday gift from him to the people of Victoria..

“This is something that’s incredible for our city and our state.

“Once it’s constructed, a million visitors a year will be coming here to the Fox NGV contemporary.”