The National Gallery has announced plans for a major new wing, backed by £375m in secured funding.
This capital includes the two largest publicly reported single cash donations ever made to a museum or gallery worldwide, positioning the institution for significant physical and curatorial growth.
The expansion, named Project Domani, represents the next stage in the Gallery’s long-term masterplan, originally commissioned in 2018. The project will include the development of a new building, located on the site of St Vincent House, between Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square. The site, purchased nearly three decades ago for the purpose of future expansion, currently houses a hotel and office facilities.
As part of the early delivery phase, the Gallery is launching an international architectural competition to appoint a design team for the new wing. This phase will shape the vision for a facility intended to be of local and international cultural importance.
The new wing will support expanded gallery space, allowing for broader representation of the national collection and greater capacity for exhibitions, research, and curatorial programmes.
The scope is expected to go beyond gallery display, addressing visitor circulation and operational requirements in one of London’s most densely visited urban areas.
Funding for Project Domani includes £150m from Crankstart, the foundation of Sir Michael Moritz and Harriet Heyman, and a further £150m from the Julia Rausing Trust. These are reported to be the largest single cash gifts to a cultural institution globally. An additional £75m has been contributed by the National Gallery Trust, the Chairman of Trustees, and anonymous donors.
The new wing and its supporting programmes are expected to extend the National Gallery’s curatorial and public engagement capacity well into the next generation.