Dulwich Picture Gallery, the world's oldest purpose-built public art gallery, is opening a new £5m pavilion and sculpture garden in September 2025. The redevelopment includes the ArtPlay Pavilion designed by Carmody Groarke with artists Sarah Marsh and Stephanie Jefferies, a family cafe, and the expanded Lovington Sculpture Meadow featuring works by Amy Stephens, Tai Shani, Nika Neelova, and Harold Offeh. A two-day ArtPlay Festival on September 6-7 will celebrate the unveiling with workshops, printmaking, storytelling, and performances.
This expansion matters because it represents the gallery's biggest transformation in 20 years, reinforcing its founding mission to make great art accessible to the public. By adding dedicated family-friendly spaces and interactive installations, Dulwich Picture Gallery is adapting its historic institution to engage younger audiences and broaden community participation, setting a model for how heritage venues can evolve without losing their identity.