Dulwich Picture Gallery in south-east London has announced a celebratory weekend on 6-7 September to mark the completion of its Open Art redevelopment project, the gallery's first major revamp in over 20 years. The project transforms three acres of green space, including an expanded Sculpture Garden, a new ArtPlay Pavilion for under-eights designed by HoLD Collective, and the Lovington Sculpture Meadow by landscape artist Kim Wilkie. The redevelopment, led by architects Carmody Groarke, also restores elements of Sir John Soane's original 1811 building and adds a new entrance, café, and school lunch area. The £5m project, funded by trusts, foundations, and a public campaign, still needs £20,000 to reach its target.
This redevelopment matters because it repositions Dulwich Picture Gallery—the first purpose-built public art gallery in England—as a 'must-visit cultural destination' while expanding its educational and community reach. By integrating interactive sculpture, sensory play spaces, and biodiversity-focused landscaping inspired by masterworks like Rembrandt's 'Girl at a Window' (1645), the gallery aims to double visitor participation and deepen engagement with local schools. The project reflects a broader trend among historic institutions to reimagine outdoor spaces as integral to the art experience, blending heritage conservation with contemporary family-friendly programming.