Constitution: Objectives

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.

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.

Role