FRAMELESS London will open a new limited-run residency this May, developed in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery and centred on portraits from its Collection.
Stories: Brought To Life will be presented in the Blank Canvas Gallery at FRAMELESS, the UK’s largest permanent digital art experience. The 15-minute presentation will feature portraits of Malala Yousafzai, Amy Winehouse, William Shakespeare, Nelson Mandela and Queen Elizabeth II, using projection, animation, archival material, photography and audio to communicate the stories behind each sitter.
For operators, curators and experience designers, the residency offers a strong example of how cultural institutions and digital venues can work together to extend access to collections. Rather than relying on object display alone, the format uses large-scale media and narrative sequencing to create a structured interpretation of well-known public figures.
Collaboration With The National Portrait Gallery
The FRAMELESS team has worked with curators from the National Portrait Gallery to shape the content and maintain historical and cultural accuracy. This partnership model is significant for the attractions and museums sector, where digital presentations are increasingly expected to balance spectacle with informed interpretation.
The residency places attention on the human stories behind the portraits, drawing on each sitter’s wider cultural, political or artistic significance. The inclusion of speeches, archive content and original animation gives the format multiple points of entry for audiences, while supporting a clear curatorial framework.
For heritage and arts organisations, this approach demonstrates how collection material can be adapted for new settings without losing institutional authority. It also shows how licensing, curatorial input, media production and venue operation can come together to create temporary cultural programming with commercial and educational value.
Technology Supporting Collection Engagement
FRAMELESS has built its model around large-format projection, cinematic visual effects and original sound design. The venue, located at Marble Arch, opened in 2022 and covers over 30,000 sq ft across four galleries. Its permanent offer includes digital presentations of work associated with artists such as Monet, Van Gogh, Dali, Canaletto and Rembrandt.
The venue works with Cinesite, its BAFTA-winning production partner, to develop large-scale visual content. Across its galleries, FRAMELESS uses projection, mirrored surfaces, motion tracking and six-sided environments to present art at scale.
Stories: Brought To Life extends this model into portraiture and biographical storytelling. For experience-sector suppliers, the project highlights demand for production skills across animation, archive adaptation, audio, projection design, interactive media, content rights, curatorial consultancy and visitor flow planning.
Value For The Wider Experience Sector
The residency will run from 21 May to 12 September at FRAMELESS London and will be included within standard entry when the Blank Canvas Gallery is open. Its limited-run format gives the venue a route to refresh programming while maintaining its core offer.
For museums, galleries, and attraction operators, the project highlights the commercial and cultural potential of short-term residencies built around trusted collections. These formats can support repeat visitation, partnership development, press interest and audience diversification, while giving institutions a way to present collection stories outside traditional gallery environments.
As digital art venues continue to mature, the FRAMELESS and National Portrait Gallery collaboration provides a relevant case study in content-led programming. It positions portraiture as a platform for accessible storytelling, while showing how technology can support deeper engagement with cultural collections.
