Temporary exhibitions are an important activity for the Museum and a key part of its engagement with wider audiences. The new building offers a modern, accessible exhibition space that will enable the successful temporary exhibitions programme to continue and grow.

A flexible, purpose built gallery will ensure the Museum is able to host major international exhibitions in the future, allowing more people to see once-in-a-lifetime shows. Access to the new exhibition space will be via the Great Court. At over 1,000sqm the gallery will provide a space comparable to other UK and international institutions.

The new facilities will also improve visitor circulation around the Museum. This will help ease some of the more congested areas within the Museum, for example the extremely busy Egyptian sculpture gallery. Visitors will access the new gallery from the north west corner of the Great Court and will exit into the west stair via a new Museum shop.

The new gallery will accommodate the programme of exhibitions that are currently displayed in the Reading Room, and will allow the Reading Room to be reinstated to its former 2006 appearance.