The Julia Rausing Trust is pleased to announce it has recently made a landmark pledge of £150 million to fund a transformational project at the National Gallery that will create a brand-new wing and public realm.
The gift is the single largest donation ever pledged by The Julia Rausing Trust and has been made in memory of the British philanthropist, Julia Rausing, and her long association with the Gallery. The gift also marks the largest ever single cash donation to a museum or gallery globally.
The National Gallery has unveiled Project Domani, a new expansion project reaffirming its founding principal to make great art accessible to the public. A new gallery wing will be created on the last remaining part of the National Gallery campus: St Vincent House, which was acquired 30 years ago and is currently occupied by a hotel and office complex. The Gallery plans to develop its historic collection to include great modern paintings of the 20th and 21st centuries and will mark the beginning of a fundamental new collaboration with Tate.
The project also presents an opportunity to enhance the Gallery’s presence and urban significance to the north of Trafalgar Square, further embedding the Gallery as a cornerstone within London’s Arts Quarter.
The Julia Rausing Trust has a long association with the National Gallery having recently funded a complete refurbishment of its façade, a new research centre and artist studio as well as the refurbishment of Room 32 in 2020, the Gallery’s largest and most visited room, which has since been renamed The Julia and Hans Rausing Room in recognition of their support.
Sir Hans Rausing, Founder Trustee, said “My beloved wife Julia was a passionate supporter of the National Gallery and its role in making great art accessible to all. She would have wholeheartedly embraced the vision and ambition behind this project, recognising its potential to transform the understanding and appreciation of art, and to reinforce the Gallery’s role on the world stage. This gift is given in her memory, so that others may discover the same beauty and inspiration in art that meant so much to her.”
Director of the National Gallery, Sir Gabriele Finaldi, said “The Julia Rausing Trust’s pledge is an astounding expression of confidence in the National Gallery’s plans for the future and we are profoundly grateful. Julia Rausing loved the Gallery very deeply and I am very pleased that we, the UK public and art lovers from everywhere, will be benefitting from the Trust’s commitment well into the future.”
Simon Fourmy, Chief Executive of The Julia Rausing Trust, said ” This historic pledge represents the largest gift ever made by the Trust and stands among the most significant philanthropic contributions in UK history. This gift serves as a powerful testament to the extraordinary generosity of Sir Hans Rausing and is of a magnitude that we are unlikely to witness again from the Trust.
The Trust has proudly supported several previous projects at the National Gallery and the decision to back this project ultimately rested on three compelling benefits: the creation of a new, freely accessible gallery space in the centre of London that will allow the public to experience the full breadth of European painting; the importance of investing in the UK’s leading cultural institutions to sustain our global leadership in the creative industries; and the opportunity to honour Julia Rausing with a legacy gift of rare significance to an institution that was close to her heart.
As our major cultural institutions face growing funding pressures, we hope this generous act inspires others to make bold, transformative contributions to sustain the UK’s cultural life.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “This landmark investment is fantastic news for the National Gallery and the arts in general. It boosts the economy, opens doors for educational experiences for young people and will make great art accessible for generations to come.
As set out in our Civil Society Covenant, this government values the role of philanthropists and institutions like the National Gallery in creating a better, fairer future for all.”