The National Gallery in London has secured £375 million ($471 million) in private donations to fund its most ambitious expansion project in over 25 years, enabling the prestigious institution to venture into modern art for the first time in its 200-year history. The funding will support the construction of a new wing dedicated to 20th and 21st-century art collections, marking a historic shift for the museum that has traditionally focused on paintings from the 13th to 19th centuries.
The landmark project represents the largest museum initiative in Britain in more than a quarter-century and will fundamentally transform the National Gallery's scope. Since its establishment in 1824, the institution has housed masterpieces by renowned artists including Monet, Raphael, Rembrandt, and Van Gogh, but has been restricted from displaying works created after 1900 due to a longstanding agreement with the Tate Modern, London's premier contemporary art institution.
This restriction is now being lifted through close collaboration between the two British institutions. Maria Balshaw, director of the Tate, expressed her pride in "promoting the national collection as a whole," indicating a new era of cooperation that will benefit both museums and the public. The partnership demonstrates how major cultural institutions can work together to enhance rather than compete with each other's missions.
Gabriele Finaldi, who became the National Gallery's director in 2016, has long championed this expansion. He stated his hope to "tell a more complete story" of art history, addressing what he previously described as "somewhat frustrating" limitations that prevented the museum from showcasing works beyond 1900. Finaldi also aims to address significant gender imbalances in the collection, noting that only 27 of the 2,300 paintings currently displayed are works by female artists.
The director emphasized that the expansion will maintain the gallery's intimate, human-scale atmosphere that allows visitors to experience the entire collection "free of charge in a single day," distinguishing it from massive institutions like the Louvre in Paris or the Prado in Madrid. This commitment to accessibility and visitor experience remains central to the National Gallery's identity even as it grows.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the development as "fantastic news for the National Gallery and the arts in general." He highlighted the project's broader benefits, stating that it "stimulates the economy, opens the door to educational experiences for young people, and makes art accessible to future generations." The government's support underscores the project's significance for Britain's cultural landscape.
The substantial funding comes from three primary sources, demonstrating unprecedented private support for British cultural institutions. The Crankstart charitable foundation, established by Sir Michael Moritz and his wife Harriet Heyman, has committed £150 million to the project. An additional £150 million will come from the Julia Rausing Trust, reflecting the late philanthropist's dedication to the National Gallery's mission of democratizing art access. Julia Rausing, who died in April 2024, was described by her husband as having "wholeheartedly embraced the vision and ambition underlying this project."
The remaining £75 million will be provided by the National Gallery Trust, the museum's board chairman John Booth, and other anonymous donors, showcasing a broad coalition of support for the expansion. This diverse funding base reflects confidence in the project's potential impact on London's cultural scene and international art world.
A architectural competition launched on September 10 will determine the design for the new facility, which is expected to open in the early 2030s. The National Gallery, which welcomed 3.6 million visitors in 2024, anticipates that the expansion will attract even more international visitors and strengthen London's position as a global art destination. The new wing will enable the museum to present a comprehensive narrative of artistic development from medieval times through the contemporary era, fulfilling its mission to make great art accessible to all.
