Constitution

Objectives

The National Gallery has a number of objectives laid out under its constitution to study, enhance and care for the collection.

Care for the collection

• Keep the pictures in the nation's collection safe for future generations by maintaining a safe and appropriate environment for them, monitoring their condition regularly, and undertaking suitable restoration or conservation
• Do everything possible to secure the pictures from fire, theft and other hazards
• Do everything possible to ensure that pictures loaned out are in sound enough condition to travel and then travel safely 

Enhance the collection

• Acquire great pictures across the whole range of European painting to maintain and enhance the collection now and for future generations

Gauguin, 'Bowl of Fruit and Tankard before a Window', probably 1890

Study the collection

• Encourage all aspects of scholarship on the collection, developing research into, and documentation of, the pictures and maintaining a leading national and international role in the study of Western European painting, while ensuring that this work is disseminated
• Access to the collection for the education and enjoyment of the widest possible public
• Allow the public to use the collection as their own by maintaining free admission, during the most convenient possible hours, to as much as possible of the permanent collection
• Display the pictures well
• Help the widest possible public both in the Gallery and beyond to understand and enjoy the paintings, taking advantage of opportunities created by modern technology
• Offer the highest possible standards in services for visitors
• A national and international leader in all its activities
• Work with other regional museums and galleries in the United Kingdom

Read about the role of the National Gallery or view an overview of the constitution.

Further information