THE NATIONAL ART GALLERY

The first exhibition

on 28 August 1958

Back
Story
The Arts Council of the Federation of Malaya formed by the then senior civil servant Mubin Sheppard in 1952, had been put to task by
the Federal Government 'to encourage and develop a greater knowledge, understanding and practice of the Arts in the Federation of
Malaya'.
In 1958 the Council was asked to name a committee to establish a National Art Gallery . The working Committee functioned for
several
years until in 1963 that a newly appointed Board of trustees was convened.
HISTORY
The first Chairman appointed was Professor
Ungku Aziz and the Deputy Chairman was P.G.
Lim.
The first exhibition on 28 August 1958, by
Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister
of Malaysia as the Balai Seni Lukisan Negara
or 'National Art Gallery. The gallery which was
established since 1958, had thrived for 25
years in a temporary abode at the Dewan Tunku
Abdul Rahman, the country's first
House of Parliament on the site known today as
the Malaysian Tourism Center .
HOW IT’S
goes here
The Balai changed its name to the National
Visual Arts Gallery in 2011 with the
establishment
of the National Visual Art Development Board
Act of 2011 (Act 724) the Akta Lembaga
Pembangunan Seni Visual Negara 2011.The
Balai is also a statutory body and an agency
under the
Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture, of
Malaysia.
 THE ART GALLERY
CHRONOLOGY
• 27 August 1958 – The National Art Gallery
was officially established through the
National Art Gallery Act. The first director
of the National Art Gallery was Mr. Frank • 15 December 2010 – Second and third
Sullivan
readings at the House of Representatives.
• 3 October 2007 – The National Visual Arts • 22 December 2010 – Tabling at the House
Development Board Bill was passed by the
of Senate.
Cabinet to repeal the National Art Gallery
Act 1959. • 24 January 2011 – Assent by the Yang di-
Pertuan Agong
• 2008 – The National Visual (Tampak) Arts
Development Board Bill was withdrawn as • 27 August 2011 – Enforcement of the Act.
the term “Tampak” has a different
connotation to some ethnic groups in Sabah. • 26 September 2011 – Launch of the
National Visual Arts Development Board
• 16 July 2010 – Tabling and passing of the
Act by the Minister of Information,
National Visual Arts Development Board
Communications and Culture.
Bill by the Cabinet.

• 11 October 2010 – First reading of the

National Visual Arts Development Board
Bill at the House of Representatives.
 BOARD OF
SUPPORT
MINISTRIES DIRECTORS
• Ministry of Youth and Sports

• Ministry of Tourism Malaysia.

• The Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage

• The Ministry of Unity, Culture, Arts and

Heritage

• The Ministry of Information,

Communication and Culture (April 2009 to
May 2013)

• The Ministry of Tourism and Culture (May

2013 to May 2018)

• The Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture

Malaysia
THE LOGO • The eye represents the views
of the visual arts artist.

• The square represents visual

arts

• The long oval suggest the

essence of arts

• This logo was invented by

Yang Bahagia. Datuk Syed
Ahmad Jamal
VISION
AND
MISSION
• To become the ultimate center for the
development and collection of the national
visual arts and the trustee for the national art
heritage.

• To collect, restore, preserve, exhibit,

promote and nurture awareness,
understanding and appreciation of art for all
community.
OBJECTIVE

• To have a collection of artworks as the National

• To promote and improve the quality of
Visual Art Permanent Collection that portrays the
national visual arts by organizing exhibitions,
creativity and cultural arts aspirations in local and
seminars, workshops, competitions and arts
international aspects.
activities in local and international aspects.
• To restore, preserve, document and research the
• To create awareness, understanding,
National Visual Art Permanent Collection and the
appreciation and respect towards arts.
historical of national arts.