This morning it was announced that the Reuben Foundation has donated £30million to the Courtauld. This is the largest financial gift the Courtauld has ever received.
Today’s announcement marks the beginning of a long-term partnership, which will also see the Reuben Foundation supporting the development of displays and exhibitions at the Courtauld through sharing works from the Reuben family’s extensive collection of art.
The Courtauld, founded in 1932, thanks to Samuel Courtauld’s extraordinary philanthropy, brings together a world-class art collection and a globally renowned academic institute in a way unmatched by others. The Reuben Foundation’s generous gift, echoing that of Samuel Courtauld, forms part of a major campaign being mounted for the Courtauld’s centenary.
Having reopened its Gallery in 2021, the Courtauld’s new campus on the Strand is expected to open in 2029. Over the last decade, £115m has been raised for these two interlinked projects. The Reuben Foundation’s extraordinary new gift will play a transformative role in funding the Strand campus and in supporting the Courtauld’s aim to share its expertise on the visual arts with the widest possible audience.
Commenting on the gift, Lisa Reuben, Trustee of the Reuben Foundation, said:
“We are thrilled by the opportunity to build on the Courtauld’s remarkable history and to support the realisation of its ambitious development. Recognised internationally as the pre-eminent centre for the study of art history, art conservation and curatorial studies, the Courtauld exemplifies the philanthropist Samuel Courtauld’s vision of ‘art for all.’ Its enduring commitment to excellence – reflected in the generations of leaders in the art world it has produced – aligns seamlessly with the Reuben Foundation’s values and ethos and furthers our commitment to education and culture.”
Professor Mark Hallett, Märit Rausing Director of the Courtauld, said:
“The partnership with the Reuben Foundation marks a defining moment in the Courtauld’s history, ushering in a bold new chapter and launching us into our next century with even greater ambition and purpose. We look forward to working closely with the Foundation over the coming years and creating something truly unique together.”
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About
Formed in 2002, the Reuben Foundation is a UK charitable foundation focused on the advancement of healthcare, education and the community both in the UK and globally.
Recent projects include the Reuben Scholarship Programme, which assists thousands of the most talented students from less advantaged backgrounds with financial support towards university living costs. The Reuben Scholarships Programme runs in partnership with the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Ark Schools. In 2020 the Reuben Foundation made a transformational gift to establish Reuben College at the University of Oxford, marking only the 39th college in the university’s near-1,000-year history and the first new college at the university for 30 years.
In the healthcare space gifts include the creation of the largest centre for paediatric cancer treatment in Europe at Great Ormond Street Hospital, a world-leading treatment and research centre at The Royal Marsden Hospital, and a new maternity ward and neonatal intensive care unit at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital as well as a new young people’s centre designed to provide immediate, specialist and integrated care to young people in mental health crisis. MORE: reubenfoundation.com/
