National Gallery to let lottery-chosen citizens shape its future
- maxwell museums
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
In an unprecedented move, the National Gallery is handing real decision-making power to members of the public — selected by lottery — in what it calls a “transformative” new approach to governance.
The landmark project will see a UK-wide Citizens’ Assembly shape the future priorities of the Gallery, marking the first time a British museum has embedded public voices into its long-term strategy.
The move has been hailed as “a transformative way of working" by the Gallery, and that citizens will be drawn from all four nations of the United Kingdom.
But not everyone is convinced. One art critic has called it “an awful idea.”
How the National Gallery’s Citizens’ Assembly will work
The first stage will see 50 participants selected by a civic lottery which will work with the National Gallery to set its future priorities. Invitations will be sent out to 15,000 households across Britain, with the final group even including individuals who have never engaged with the Gallery before.
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The second stage will involve forming a long-term Citizens’ Panel of 20 people, which will continue to work with the Gallery to develop and implement ideas over the next half a decade. This will ensure “the public voice is embedded not only now, but also throughout the Gallery’s ongoing decision-making processes” according to an official statement.
The whole project will be called NG Citizens and will be facilitated by Involve — a public participation charity with over 20 years’ experience in designing and delivering meaningful public engagement projects.
Jane Knowles, Director of Public Engagement for the National Gallery says 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.”
Sir Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery, says “NG Citizens marks a bold new chapter” and 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.”
The project has looked to recent similar but smaller initiatives by cultural organisations, especially a citizens' jury convened by Birmingham Museums Trust. This saw 28 participants from the Birmingham metropolitan area offer recommendations for the Trust’s multiple sites.
The top recommendation from this city-wide jury was that the museums needed better promotion and should engage with online influencers more.
What critics are saying about the move
While it’s perhaps too early to know how this will actually pan out, many people in the sector have praised the move on LinkedIn.
But one arts commentator is not a fan.
Writing in the London Standard, Melanie McDonagh said of the news that “In general, if someone mentions the words Citizen’s Assembly, just assume the worst.”
McDonagh thinks the plans are “an awful idea, both in itself and in where it might lead.”
“The whole notion of embedding people who don’t know much about art in the business of purchasing and displaying art… would be risible if it didn’t also have the potential to be damaging” she says.
