A spectacular lyrebird costume designed by the late artist Sidney Nolan for the Australian Ballet was the centrepiece of the launch on Thursday at Canberra Museum + Gallery of an exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of his gift to the Australian people.

The launch also featured the opening of A Total Work of Art: Sidney Nolan and the Stage, a new exhibition, part of which looks at Nolan’s designs for the ballet, The Display, directed by Robert Helpmann.

That work famously travelled from Melbourne to the opening of Canberra Theatre Centre in 1965, 60 years ago.

Nolan originally donated 24 significant artworks to the Australian people, first exhibited at Lanyon Homestead in 1975, then in 2007 after devastating bushfires around Tharwa, relocated to the CMAG, which has custodianship not ownership of the works, now numbering 218 in total.

A large crowd of representatives from Canberra’s cultural organisations this morning heard Alicia Payne, federal member for Canberra, talk up the influence of the late Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, who, on election, gave the arts pride of place in Australia and, after a sideline chat to Nolan, made possible the Nolan gift.

Chair of the Cultural Facilities Corporation Helen O’Neill spoke of the CMAG’s work in conserving and caring for the collection, noting the coincidence that the Nolan 50 years stood alongside the Canberra Theatre’s 60.

CMAG curator Virginia Rigney celebrations would include a concert series featuring David Bridie and Sophie Hutchings performing compositions at CMAG inspired by Nolan’s artworks. Other events in Nolan50 will be a symposium at Canberra Theatre, Cultural Alliance, and new multi-media work, Looking for the Lyre, by artist Dean Cross, who’ll be exploring Nolan’s ballet designs, examining his creative legacy and his depiction of Aboriginal people.

Then in 2026 CMAG will host a show, Public Impressions – Sidney Nolan in Popular Media and in 2027-28 there will be Nolan: The Backstory, winding up the 50th celebrations.

A Total Work of Art: Sidney Nolan and the Stage, Canberra Museum + Gallery until March 2026.