The purpose of the National Portrait Gallery is to increase the understanding and appreciation of the Australian people – their identity, history, culture, creativity and diversity – through portraiture.

The National Portrait Gallery programs are designed to meet learning needs of students at all levels of primary and secondary education.

Students develop an understanding of the connections between history, biography and art through the range of programs available. Engage in conversation, drawing and activity with your students in a Portrait School facilitated learning program.

Acknowledging the Australian Curriculum; the suite of programs is designed for each learning level. Driven by the richness of the Gallery’s collection, temporary exhibitions and students’ responses, programs emphasise an interdisciplinary approach with a focus on visual art, history, English and civics and citizenship.