London’s National Gallery Pioneers Public Participation with “NG Citizens” Assembly to Shape Its Future
As London’s National Gallery enters its third century, it is embarking on a groundbreaking journey to deepen its relationship with the public through the creation of a citizens' assembly named NG Citizens. This innovative project marks the first time a major UK national museum has invited a representative group of people from across the country to help shape its future priorities, public value, and programming. By placing audiences at the heart of its governance, the Gallery seeks to remain relevant, inclusive, and truly reflective of the diverse communities it serves.
What is NG Citizens and How Does it Work?
Starting next month, the National Gallery will send out invitations to 15,000 households across the United Kingdom, including individuals who have never previously engaged with the museum. Fifty participants will be selected through a civic lottery, a democratic method aimed at assembling a broadly representative group of citizens from all four nations of the UK—including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
These members will form the NG Citizens assembly, tasked with discussing and developing recommendations on the museum’s purpose, priorities, and societal value. Experts and diverse perspectives will inform their deliberations, ensuring evidence-based input. After this initial phase, a smaller 20-person citizens' panel will be formed to continue collaborating with museum leadership over the next five years, helping to develop and implement ideas that emerge from the assembly.
This is far more than a consultation. As Jane Knowles, Director of Public Engagement, emphasizes, “This isn’t a consultation; it’s a collaboration.” The initiative represents a transformative cultural step, strengthening how the Gallery engages with audiences across the UK and setting new standards for public participation in cultural institutions.
For a more detailed overview, see the National Gallery’s official announcement on NG Citizens and the coverage on Artnet News.
Why Is This a Landmark Initiative?
Founded in 1824 by an act of Parliament with a mission to make great art accessible to all, the National Gallery has continuously evolved alongside society. As it embarks on its third century, this citizens' assembly comes amid challenges facing museums across the UK including fluctuating funding, reduced visitation—down 17% since pre-pandemic 2019 in some reports—and the need to address changing audience expectations.
Initiatives like NG Citizens directly confront these realities by empowering the public to actively participate in determining the Gallery’s direction rather than promoting top-down decision-making. This inclusive governance model reflects a wider movement across cultural institutions to create meaningful, ongoing dialogue with communities.
Similar projects have been piloted regionally, such as the Birmingham Museums Trust’s citizens’ jury, which gathered input from local residents to help shape its strategic planning. NG Citizens positions the National Gallery as a national leader, pioneering this approach on a grand scale.
Building on Past Community Engagement Successes
The Gallery already has a strong track record of co-creation and public partnership. Recent examples include extensive consultations with schools and youth charities for the renovation of the Roden Centre for Creative Learning, which reopened in 2025 with architecture and programming shaped by input from children and educators.
Additionally, the Gallery’s augmented reality project, “Keeperverse”, welcomed feedback from children’s advisory groups, families, and schools, influencing narrative themes and gameplay. These successes reinforce NG Citizens’ potential to foster deeper, more diverse public engagement.
For further insights, the involvement and expertise provided by public participation charity Involve and the Sortition Foundation—specialists in civic lotteries—ensure that NG Citizens will be thoughtfully designed and impactful over its five-year lifespan.
What This Means for Art Lovers and the Public
For art lovers, NG Citizens offers an inspiring model for how institutions can engage audiences beyond exhibition attendance—to directly influence funding priorities, education initiatives, community programming, and inclusivity measures. By democratizing decision-making, the National Gallery aims to foster a sense of ownership and belonging among UK residents, especially those historically underserved by traditional museum spaces.
This project also opens a wider conversation about the role of museums in modern society—as active cultural partners rather than static repositories of art.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the NG Citizens assembly at the National Gallery?
It is a citizens’ assembly made up of 50 UK residents selected by lottery, tasked with advising on the Gallery’s purpose, priorities, and public value over a five-year period.
Q2: How are participants selected for NG Citizens?
Fifteen thousand households across the UK will receive invitations, and 50 people will be chosen through a civic lottery designed to represent the diverse UK population.
Q3: Will NG Citizens influence the artworks displayed or exhibitions?
The assembly’s focus is on the Gallery’s broader aims, public role, and programming priorities—not decisions about specific artworks or exhibitions.
Q4: How can the public be sure that their voices will have a real impact?
A 20-member permanent citizens’ panel will work directly with the museum’s leadership to help develop and implement ideas emerging from the assembly’s recommendations.
Q5: Who is facilitating this initiative?
The project is run with public participation experts Involve and the Sortition Foundation, ensuring a democratic and meaningful engagement process.
Q6: Where can I learn more or follow the progress of NG Citizens?
Updates and information are available on the National Gallery’s official site here and via art news portals like Artnet News.
London’s National Gallery’s NG Citizens initiative represents an inspiring, forward-looking model for museums worldwide—demonstrating how deep public collaboration can shape cultural institutions that are vibrant, inclusive, and genuinely reflective of the society they serve.