When will the Gallery reopen?

In order to complete the project, the Gallery in St Martin’s Place, London closed in spring 2020 while building works took place.

The Gallery reopened to the public on 22 June 2023.

How will the Gallery change?

The project will see a transformed National Portrait Gallery with a comprehensive re-display of the Gallery’s Collection from the Tudors to now, combined with a significant refurbishment of the building, the creation of a new public spaces, a more welcoming visitor entrance and public forecourt and a new state of the art Learning Centre.

Why are you doing this now?

Some of the Gallery’s permanent galleries have not been renewed for 25 years and the Learning studio facilities have not been updated since 1992. Previous refurbishments and extensions have been incremental making parts of the building difficult to navigate and there has been wear and tear to visitor facilities over the years.

The Gallery recognises that it needs to offer visitors an experience that reflects the quality of the Collection and its national status. Revitalising the building, updating the galleries and extending our national programme will provide us with the opportunity to connect with new and existing visitors and ensure the Gallery remains relevant to all our audiences in the 21st Century.

What will happen to the Collection when the Gallery is closed?

During the closure period, key works from the Gallery’s Collection have remained on public display through a series of nationwide collaborations including partnerships with The National Trust, The National Gallery, Royal Museums Greenwich, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Coventry City of Culture (Herbert Art Gallery & Museum), York Art Gallery, the Holburne Museum, Bath, Museums Liverpool, the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Derby Museum and Art Gallery, The Yorkshire Museum and Aston Hall in Birmingham.

Partnerships with communities and schools across the UK, drawing on the Gallery’s Collection, include Faces and Places – a new schools outreach programme in seven London boroughs accompanied by displays in nearby schools, libraries, arts centres and museums; Citizen UK – a project working with local heritage and community partners in London and Wolverhampton to explore stories of migration and movement within the UK; and People Powered – a series of exhibitions created with partners in London and Teesside, uncovering the experiences of communities involved in creating international and world class exports, such as steel in Middlesbrough or football in Wembley.

The Gallery has also continued to grow its international programme. This has included the Tudors to Windsors exhibition which toured to the Ueno Royal Museum in Tokyo in partnership with Fuji TV and Love Stories, an exhibition which explores the synergy between portraiture, love and relationships, travelled to venues in the United States. Find out more on our Events Calendar.

The public can explore the Gallery’s Collection online at npg.org.uk and search over 215,000 images, 150,000 of which are illustrated.

The Heinz Archive and Library is open and accessible by appointment to visitors who are interested in any aspect of British portraiture or the history of the Gallery.

Will the building be unrecognisable when it reopens?

No. The project will include a new entrance and forecourt on the North Façade near Leicester Square, significant refurbishment of the building and a comprehensive redisplay of the Collections. The transformation will enhance the Gallery, restoring historic features while preserving the unique character of the listed building.

What will happen to my Membership?

Members will continue to receive invitations to events, including curator talks and Archive tours; 10% discount from our online shop; supporters’ magazine three times a year and a monthly enewsletter; access to selected exhibitions and private views at partner organisations; special discounts at partner restaurants and retailers. For as long as we are required to comply with social distancing rules, some of these benefits might be subject to limitations but we will continue to provide opportunities to engage with the Collection digitally in the meantime.

We are also extending all Memberships by three months to allow Members to enjoy benefits and exclusive access for longer. Members renewing in 2020 will receive three years for the price of one with an additional three months added to their renewed membership so they can get access to re-opening events.

We hope that Members will continue to support the Gallery at this important moment in its history. If you have any queries please contact the Membership Team on [email protected]

Will the Archive and Library still be open?

The Heinz Archive and Library is open and accessible by appointment to visitors who are interested in any aspect of British portraiture or the history of the Gallery.

Will the schools programme still run?

The schools programme will cease onsite until the Gallery reopens in June 2023. The transformed building will have a new Learning Centre with greatly enhanced facilities and access, including studios and breakout spaces and a dedicated lunchroom and cloakroom. This transformation will enable a revitalised and vibrant learning offer for schools, which will benefit both formal and informal learners on-site.

During closure, the Gallery will run a series of partnerships with communities and schools across the UK, drawing on the Collection, including Faces and Places – a new schools outreach programme in seven London boroughs accompanied by displays in nearby schools, libraries, arts centres and museums; Citizen UK – a project working with local heritage and community partners in London and Wolverhampton to explore stories of migration and movement within the UK; and People Powered – a series of exhibitions created with partners in London and Teesside, uncovering the experiences of communities involved in creating international and world class exports, such as steel in Middlesbrough or football in Wembley. To find out more contact [email protected].

Will the Portrait Restaurant and Portrait Café remain open?

No, both the Portrait Restaurant and Portrait Café closed in spring 2020. The transformed building will include a revitalised catering offer with a new flexible social space in the East Wing, an extension to our brick vaulted Portrait Café and the refurbishment of the Portrait Restaurant. Booking for the restaurant will open in spring 2023 in advance of the Gallery's reopening in June.

Will the Gallery shops remain open?

The Gallery’s onsite shops are closed during the building project. However, the online shop has continued to operate selling a wide range of unique prints, gifts and books.

Who is funding the project?

The project has been funded with major grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Blavatnik Family Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Ross Foundation and Art Fund together with generous support from a range of foundations, individuals and other supporters.

Who are the architects and designers?

Jamie Fobert Architects were appointed in 2018 to lead the transformation with a multidisciplinary design team - Heritage Architect, Purcell, M&E Engineer, Max Fordham and Structural Engineer, Price & Myers.

How can I support the project?

The Gallery’s Make History campaign has supported the fundraising efforts for the project. Members of the public can support the appeal in several ways including by helping to fund new mosaics, which will form part of Jamie Fobert's design or adopting one of 18 stone busts on the exterior of the building.

Find out more and donate to the fundraising campaign

Where can I find out more information about the project?

Please bookmark this page or sign up to our free e-newsletter for updates

Why has the Gallery had to close for the period from spring 2020 to June 2023?

This is the biggest development since the Gallery opened in 1896 and the first time in which the building as a whole is being considered. The work involved extends into all areas of the building and its services. The scale and complexity of the Inspiring People project on a Grade 1 listed building means that complete closure is the most time efficient and cost effective way to complete the project and, more importantly, to ensure visitors, members of staff and the Collection are not put at risk.

Will the public programme still run?

The public programme of events has not run onsite until during closure. The transformed building will have a new Learning Centre with greatly enhanced facilities and access, including studios and breakout spaces. This transformation will enable a revitalised and extensive public programme for all audiences.

During the closure period, we have continued to find ways to make our Collection available to as many people as possible, creating new and engaging content online and sharing works across the UK through an innovative programme of partnerships and collaborations.

Find out about the project