London's National Gallery has announced Project Domani, a nearly $1 billion initiative to collect 20th- and 21st-century art and build a new wing to house it. The institution has shortlisted six architectural firms—including Foster + Partners, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, and Kengo Kuma and Associates—from 65 entrants in an international competition, with a winner to be announced in April. About half the funds have been raised, with major pledges from Crankstart, the Julia Rausing Trust, and the National Gallery Trust. The wing will be built on the last undeveloped portion of the campus at 30 Orange Street and is projected to open in the early 2030s.
This project matters because it represents a strategic shift for the National Gallery, which has historically focused on pre-1900 art, to compete in a global cultural landscape where major museums increasingly collect modern and contemporary works. The £375 million still to be raised will fund post-1900 acquisitions and an endowment for the new wing, signaling a long-term commitment to expanding the institution's relevance. The initiative also underscores the UK's ambition to maintain its standing in the international art world amid stiff competition from other leading museums.