The National Gallery sought not simply to mark its 200th anniversary, but to make it matter. 

The team knew they wanted to seize the moment as a catalyst for progress. First, they rooted themselves in their founding principles. “That founding act was more than legislation,” said James Beardsworth-Shaw, Head of Loyalty, Sales and Ticketed Experiences. “It was a promise that art should not be exclusive — that history, creativity and beauty should be shared.” 

From this idea emerged an ambitious project the team dubbed NG200. The yearlong celebration, they realized, could be an accelerant for a better future. They designed NG200's programs to increase the gallery's public participation, connection and impact.

As James presented at the Tessitura Learning & Community Conference, their efforts paid off. The National Treasures Tour saw 750,000 visitors across 12 stops nationally. Art Road Trip, a mobile art studio, reached 15,000 participants in local communities. The Wonder of Art reimagined the National Gallery’s permanent collection, inviting all visitors to experience the works afresh. NG200 closed with The Triumph of Art, a free, family-friendly celebration in Trafalgar Square.

“As we look ahead, our promise is this: That the National Gallery will be a space for everyone, everywhere.”

In London, the National Gallery launched new capital projects for the main entrance, educational facilities and membership program. These projects considered how the institution connects people with art. 

“As we look ahead,” James said, “our promise is this: the National Gallery will be a space for everyone, everywhere, a home where great paintings inspire new ideas for the future and a gallery for the nation.”

Why should cultural organizations mark these moments? NG200 demonstrated the vital opportunity milestones provide for reflection and renewed community connection. “When we pause to celebrate, we create space,” James shared. “Space for new voices, space for new relationships and space for new ways of seeing.” 

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James Beardsworth-Shaw presented this talk as part of Tessitura’s Innovator Series at the Tessitura Learning & Community Conference in Anaheim, California, in August 2025.