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Following a three-year refurbishment, reorganisation of the collection and addition of new public spaces, the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) will re-open its doors on 22 June.
The NPG was established in 1856 as the world’s first national gallery dedicated to portraiture, and in 1896 it moved to its present location in Trafalgar Square. Housing portraits of figures of historical importance and famous British people, in 1969 it began collecting portraits of living sitters too.
We are very much looking forward to the First Look Festival, which launches on 22 June and runs until 2 July, celebrating the transformation of the gallery. Speakers include Stanley Tucci, Paul McCartney, Tracey Emin, Alex Pascall and Jamie Fobert.