Log in
Forgot password


Welcome to the Friends of TMAG


The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery collects, houses and safeguards our natural and cultural heritage. 

Since its foundation in 1982 The Friends of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery has supported the mission of TMAG in myriad ways. Each year we present a varied program of both public and member-only events that bring people to the museum and encourage them to engage with current exhibitions and the collection more broadly. We also support TMAG’s curators and collections by donating funds to assist with purchases. 

The Friends of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is a member of the Australian Federation of Friends of Museums (AFFM) and the World Federation of Friends of Museums (WFFM).

TMAG UNDER THREAT!

The Tasmanian Government has proposed drastic cuts
to TMAG’s personnel

The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is not only one of Tasmania’s most visited and important cultural institutions; it is also a working museum, artgallery and herbarium responsible for collecting, managing and conserving over one million items in the State Collection.

The value of this outstanding asset depends not only on the excellence of the exhibitions the public sees, but also on the specialist work that happens behind the scenes. Cuts to specialist staff would inevitably mean fewer, poorer and more limited public programs, displays and visitor experiences, and put at risk the careful conservation, cataloguing, research, loans and expert knowledge needed to protect Tasmania’s cultural, scientific and First Peoples heritage for future generations. The cuts would also make it difficult for TMAG to meet its legal obligations to care for the State Collection.

Once specialist staff and institutional knowledge are lost, they are difficult or impossible to replace. Reducing staff would damage TMAG’s ability to serve visitors now and to safeguard the collections entrusted to it for the future.

Staff are not optional extras; they are essential to the functioning of TMAG.

We ask you to join us in publicly opposing these cuts, support TMAG staff, and ensure that any decisions about the museum’s future are made openly, with proper consideration of the consequences for Tasmania’s heritage, communities and visitors.


What you can do to help

click here for some simple things that you can do
to help the community express its opinion about the proposed cuts

Current committee

2025–2026:

Jane Wilcox, President

Peter Black, Vice President 

Gerry McAfee, Treasurer

Julie Hawkins, Secretary

Committee members are Ralph Crane, Michael Johnston, Ian Terry, Gill Ward, Mia Williamson and Elspeth Wishart.


AGM 28 September 2026:

Read the minutes here

Read the President's Report here

Read the Treasurer's Report here

Follow us on social media

We are updating our Facebook and Instagram pages regularly, so follow along to stay in touch.

Upcoming events

Messages of support 

We have started a blog page to display some responses to our letters to elected representatives and other items of interest.

Blog posts

Join the Friends

Joining the Friends will reward you in many ways:
  • Get to know your museum and art gallery.
  • Immerse yourself in TMAG exhibitions, with insights from TMAG curators and other experts.
  • Enjoy access to the TMAG Members’ Lounge.
  • Expand your horizons with Friends events at TMAG and further afield.
  • Assist TMAG through the purchase of needed items by the Friends.
  • Attend social events and meet like-minded people.
  • Follow your passions, and discover something new as well.
  • Receive member discounts at the TMAG Shop, Café and many other museums and art galleries around Australia and overseas.

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software