The National Gallery in London unveils a £375 million transformation and a new wing

The National Gallery had barely reopened its refurbished Sainsbury Wing when it announced another seismic development. The London institution is embarking on the most ambitious redevelopment in its 200-year history. The project has already secured £375m in public funding — including the two largest publicly declared one-off donations ever made to a museum or gallery anywhere in the world. Fresh from London — the latest cultural news with Afisha.London.

This article is also available in Russian here

At the heart of the transformation is a new wing. To design and build it, the National Gallery has launched an international architectural competition, opening on Wednesday, 10 September. Entries will be welcomed from both global heavyweights and emerging studios. The new space will rise on the site of St Vincent House — the last undeveloped plot between Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square, purchased nearly 30 years ago with expansion in mind.

ART-Завтрак: Мария-Антуанетта и другие...

Known as Project Domani, the scheme has been in development since 2018. It will reshape not only the Gallery itself but also the urban landscape around it, with new public spaces and architecture that embraces the latest technologies.

The expansion also signals a renewed emphasis on collaboration. The Gallery has announced a landmark partnership with Tate and other museums across the UK and abroad. A joint taskforce of trustees and curators is already working on plans for exhibition exchanges, knowledge sharing and conservation expertise.

The Importance of Being Earnest (with Stephen Fry)

Who’s on the sponsors list:

£150m — Crankstart (the foundation of Sir Michael Moritz KBE and Harriet Heyman)
£150m — Julia Rausing Trust (in memory of Julia Rausing, noted for her philanthropy)
£75m — National Gallery Trust, chaired by John Booth, alongside anonymous donors

The National Gallery holds what is widely regarded as the finest collection of European paintings in the world, spanning from the early 13th century onwards. It is among the most visited museums globally, mounting blockbuster exhibitions each year that draw both local audiences and international tourists. Admission remains free.

Telegram канал

Cover photo: © The National Gallery, London

The largest Henry Moore exhibition in history is coming to London

“Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers” becomes the most attended exhibition in National Gallery history

Array ( [related_params] => Array ( [query_params] => Array ( [post_type] => post [posts_per_page] => 5 [post__not_in] => Array ( [0] => 125550 ) [tax_query] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [taxonomy] => category [field] => id [terms] => Array ( [0] => 2 [1] => 5297 ) ) ) ) [title] => Related Articles ) )