Orleans House Trust and the Transforming Orleans House Team have been working hard over the past five years on plans to transform the gallery. The £3.6m project hopes to restore the gallery to its former glory as well as making it accessible to even more visitors.

Lord True, Leader of the Council and Chairman of the Orleans House Trust, said: “The Transforming Orleans House project will increase access to the history of Orleans House and the Richmond Borough Art Collection. It will restore the Octagon Room back to its former splendour  for the future enjoyment of everyone who lives, works and visits the borough. It will join up the string of pearls along the River Thames through a collaborative heritage hub.

“Every year thousands of people visit Orleans House Gallery. They view exhibitions, attend events or participate in one of the hundreds of workshops and activities scheduled. The gallery is a centre of arts and cultural activity in the borough - making art accessible to all.

“I would like to thank the Heritage Lottery Fund for their support, and for helping us to preserve and improve one of our most loved heritage sites in the borough.”

Works include the refurbishment and extension of the main gallery building and its immediate setting. The programme includes:

• The full restoration of the Grade I listed Octagon Room
• New and improved facilities in the west wing of the gallery
• New accessible entrance with lift to upper floors
• New reception and gift shop
• An upper floor extension which will provide additional spaces for a new study gallery, enlarged picture store, workshop and training room

Blondel Cluff, Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s London Committee, said: “This project will recapture the lost grandeur of Orleans House, restoring the baroque splendour of the surviving Octagon Room, and widening access to a prestigious art collection and creating a new heritage and cultural ‘hub’ on the Thames riverside to the delight of residents and visitors alike. If any heritage organisations have been inspired by the success of Orleans House Gallery, they should get in touch with the HLF London office to find out more about our grants."

Further information

For more information and to schedule press / media interviews, please call the Head of Arts & Transforming Orleans House Project Director. Rachel Tranter on 020 8831 6462.