Mr Grant said the 2015-16 series would see The Greats, Masterpieces of Western art from the National Galleries of Scotland presented at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and a major exhibition of works by acclaimed British contemporary artist, Grayson Perry, staged at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Australia.

‘The Sydney International Art Series has once again attracted two of the world’s most outstanding exhibitions, in exclusive “only in Sydney” seasons’, Mr Grant said.

‘The Sydney International Art Series was created by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, as a drawcard for visitors to Sydney. Now in its sixth year, it’s a signature event on the NSW Events Calendar, attracting close to 1.3 million visitors to the Art Gallery and the MCA over the years.’

The Greats spans a period of more than 400 years (1490 – 1932) and is a rare opportunity to view works from some of history’s most revered artists including Titian, El Greco, Velázquez, Vermeer, Monet, Rembrandt, Gauguin and Cézanne.

Art Gallery Director Dr Michael Brand said: ‘The Greats is a truly exceptional exhibition featuring many of the greatest masters of European art, some of whose names feature on the façade of the Gallery building. The Greats features seventy masterpieces by artists ranging from Raphael, da Vinci, Velasquez, Rembrandt, Watteau and Constable to Gauguin.’

‘This exhibition upholds the Gallery’s commitment to the historical as well as the contemporary and to bringing art of the highest calibre to Sydney to be enjoyed by all,’ Dr Brand said.

MCA will stage a major exhibition of works by Grayson Perry, one of Britain’s most acclaimed contemporary artists and winner of the 2003 Turner Prize. The exhibition will be Perry’s first major survey in the Southern Hemisphere.

MCA Australia Director Elizabeth Ann Macgregor OBE said: ‘Grayson Perry is one of the best known British artists of his generation. With his strong commitment to audiences and his media presence, Grayson’s appeal extends beyond the art world.’

‘It is exciting to be welcoming him and his work to Sydney for the first time in the region,’ Ms Macgregor said.

The GreatsMasterpieces of Western art from the National Galleries of Scotland runs from 24 October 2015 to 8 February 2016. Grayson Perry’s exhibition at the MCA will run from 10 December 2015 to 1 May 2016.