National Gallery to make major cuts in effort to stem ballooning deficit

Move could mean fewer free exhibitions and paid-for shows and more expensive tickets

The National Gallery is to make significant cuts in the face of an 8.2m deficit in the coming year, which could mean fewer free exhibitions and ticketed shows, less international borrowing of artworks and more expensive tickets.

As a result of considerably increased running costs and stagnant income, the gallery has said it will be looking to cut spending in areas such as public programmes, and activities where, for a number of reasons beyond our control, we can no longer justify their costs".