On 14 June 2017, the NSW Government announced funding for a major extension to the north-east of the Art Gallery of NSW, in a project known as "Sydney Modern".
The vision of Sydney Modern is to create a global art museum for a global city with new and expanded spaces for art, live performance and film along with spaces to learn, study and participate in cultural experiences.
Throughout the planning and assessment process, the Sydney Modern proposal has been shaped by input from the Gallery community, project partners including the Royal Botanic Gardens, neighbours, the Indigenous community, art and community groups, and visitors to the Gallery.
The Department has assessed the Environmental Impact Statement and made a recommendation that the application is approved, subject to conditions. The Minister for Planning approved the project in November 2018.