Tate Britain raises £28m for gallery makeover

The central London gallery, on the site of what was once Europe's biggest prison, has announced plans to change the way visitors see the gallery and its art.

Part of Tate Britain will be closed from February 2011 to 2013 to allow the changes to take place.

The work will allow recent acquisitions to go on display and will open up the upper level of the building for the first time since 1927. The top floor will become a space for Tate's private members and will hold private views, fundraising and educational events.

The inside of Tate Britain's Millbank entrance next to the Thames will also be given more prominence under the plans.

A quarter of Tate Britain will effectively be renovated under the refurbishment, set for completion in 2013, to cater for growing demand. Work on a rehang, to create a chronological display of 20th-century art, is set for completion next month.