National Gallery invites the public to help shape its future

People from all four nations of the UK will be asked to help shape the future of the National Gallery in a pioneering five-year partnership: NG Citizens.

The first time a UK gallery or museum has set up a national Citizens’ Assembly, this groundbreaking project follows on from earlier regional initiatives such as Birmingham Museums Citizens’ Jury, showing how museums can involve the public in new and exciting ways.

By placing audiences at the heart of its decision-making, the Gallery aims to shape its programmes and priorities around the needs and aspirations of communities across the UK, seeking to build meaningful and lasting connections. The Gallery is committed on being a place for everyone, everywhere.

The project will begin with a Citizens' Assembly of 50 participants, selected by a civic lottery. Invitations will be sent out to 15,000 households across the UK, with the final group reflecting the wide diversity of the UK - including individuals who have never engaged with the Gallery before. They will be invited to reflect on the Gallery’s purpose, priorities and public value, drawing on evidence from a wide range of experts and perspectives.

NG Citizens will be facilitated by Involve – a leading UK public participation charity with over 20 years’ experience in designing and delivering meaningful public engagement projects. Involve has worked with governments, civil society, and national institutions to create innovative forms of public participation that revitalise democracy and improve decision-making. Involve is partnering with Sortition Foundation, which specialise in civic lotteries and will be recruiting the Assembly members.

Building on the Assembly’s recommendations, a long-term Citizens’ Panel will continue to work with the Gallery to develop and implement ideas. This structure ensures that the public voice is embedded not only now, but also throughout the Gallery’s ongoing decision-making processes over the next five years.

The Gallery has a strong history of developing projects and programmes in partnership with the public. Most recently, children were consulted through schools and charity groups on both the architectural features and programming of the newly transformed Roden Centre for Creative Learning.

The Gallery also adopted a co-creation approach for its augmented reality project, The Keeper of Paintings, part of the 'Keeperverse', collaborating with children’s advisory groups, families and schools across the country. Their input shaped everything from narrative themes and character development to gameplay.

Launching in the wake of the NG200 Bicentenary and marking the start of its third century, NG Citizens represents a bold step toward public participation, cementing the Gallery as a pioneer in audience inclusion and setting a new standard for how national cultural institutions engage with the people they serve.

Sir Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery, said, ‘At the heart of the National Gallery is our stewardship of a collection that belongs to the UK public - our core aim is to bring people and paintings together. NG Citizens marks a bold new chapter in how we do that. By including the public in our decision-making, we hope to ensure the Gallery remains a truly national institution – inclusive, responsive and shaped by the people it exists for’.

Jane Knowles, Director of Public Engagement for the National Gallery, added ‘Public engagement is at the core of our purpose as a national institution. This sector-leading Citizens’ Assembly represents a transformative way of working –one that actively involves people in shaping the Gallery’s future. It is a culture-shaping step that deepens our relationship with audiences across the UK and ensures we remain relevant, inclusive and genuinely reflective of the public we serve. This isn’t a consultation – it’s a collaboration’.

 ‘We are excited to see the National Gallery taking a bold, citizens-first approach and are honoured to partner with them on this transformative initiative’, said Steph Draper, interim Co-CEO at Involve. ‘By working with the public to foster greater inclusivity, deeper connection and a more responsive institution, we hope to help set a new standard for how cultural organisations can truly serve everyone, everywhere.’

Notes to editors

Image credit: © The National Gallery, London. Photo Edmund Sumner

The National Gallery

The National Gallery is one of the greatest art galleries in the world. Founded by Parliament in 1824, the Gallery houses the nation’s collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the late 13th to the early 20th century. The collection includes works by Artemisia Gentileschi, Bellini, Cezanne, Degas, Leonardo, Monet, Raphael, Rembrandt, Renoir, Rubens, Titian, Turner, Van Dyck, Van Gogh and Velázquez. The Gallery’s key objectives are to care for and enhance the collection and provide the best possible access to visitors. Admission free. 

More information at nationalgallery.org.uk

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Involve

Involve is the UK’s leading public participation charity. They develop, support and campaign for new ways to involve people in decisions that affect their lives. Since 2003, they have been working with governments, parliaments, civil society, academics and the public to create and deliver new forms of public participation that re-vitalise democracy and improve decision making.

For more information

National Gallery Press Office on 020 7747 2865 or email National Gallery Press Office press.external@nationalgallery.org.uk  
Publicity images can be obtained from https://press.nationalgallery.org.uk/