Smithsonian Institution announces first major exhibition outside of the US at London's Olympic Park

America's prestigious Smithsonian Institution is to open its first major exhibition venue outside the US in London’s Olympic Park in 2021.

Today in Washington the Smithsonian announced that it will be holding formal talks with the owner of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the London Legacy Development Corporation, over plans for the new site. The planned 3,750 square metre London gallery will feature permanent and rotating exhibits drawn from the Smithsonian’s vast collections in history, art, culture and science.

The Mayor, Boris Johnson, said: “It would be a massive coup to attract the Smithsonian Institution to east London.” The Institution, which includes some of America’s most famous national collections, such as the National Air and Space Museum, has never before opened such an exhibition space outside the US in its 168-year history.

The move follows a series of meetings between the Mayor, the LLDC and the Smithsonian.

“This is more than just a preliminary announcement,” said an LLDC spokesman. “This is some months of talks coming to fruition.”

The Smithsonian will join University College London, the University of the Arts London (which includes Central St Martins and the London College of Fashion), the V&A and Sadler’s Wells at the Park’s new “Olympicopolis” site on Stratford Waterfront. The £850 million project’s first tenant will be UCL, from autumn 2018, after which the site will form a new university, arts and cultural district.

Last July the Mayor announced an international design competition for the district. A shortlist was announced in December 2014 and the winning team will be announced this spring. The complex will also include housing.

The Chair of the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents, John McCarter, said: “The proposal is impressive and exciting. The Smithsonian greatly appreciates the opportunity to participate in the development process, and looks forward to the day the doors open.”