Arts & Culture
Art & Cultural Institutions
The Blavatnik Wing at the National Portrait Gallery, London. Photo by Jim Stephenson
CELEBRATING THE ARTS, CREATIVITY, AND CULTURE
The Foundation supports world-class arts and cultural institutions, and programs that preserve and promote the beauty and creativity of humankind.
The Foundation contributes to some of the world’s greatest institutions, showcasing the breadth of arts and culture including performance, exhibition and education.
The Courtauld at Somerset House
"We are incredibly grateful to Sir Leonard and Lady Blavatnik and the Blavatnik Family Foundation for this historic and transformative gift, which has provided vital support for our Inspiring People project and initiates the next stage of our future development in terms of profile and programme.”
The foundation has
Gifted over
$175
Million in support
Impacted
8
Countries
Supported
180
Arts and cultural institutions
Beneficiaries
Click the boxes below for more detail.
The Blavatnik Fine Rooms at The Courtauld
The Courtauld Institute of Art
In 2020, the Foundation supported a major transformation of The Courtauld, one of the world’s leading centers for the study of art history, research, and conservation, restoring its grandeur and creating state-of-the-art facilities. In recognition of the Foundation’s £10 million gift, a suite of six galleries showcasing some of the greatest works in The Courtauld’s collection, ranging from the Renaissance to the 18th Century, was renamed the Blavatnik Fine Rooms.
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The Princess of Wales and Dr. Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the National Portrait Gallery @ David Perry
National Portrait Gallery
In 2022, the Foundation provided £10 million to support the most extensive redevelopment of the National Portrait Gallery since 1896. As part of the redevelopment, which opened in 2023, the first floor of the museum was renamed the Blavatnik Wing. Other Foundation support has included sponsorship of significant exhibitions and gala events.
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Photo by Rory Mulvey
Royal Academy of Arts
For over 250 years, the Royal Academy has championed art and artists and has been a leading global education centre. In 2018, the Foundation helped support the redevelopment of the entire building, and the main reception room was renamed the Blavatnik Salon. The Foundation has separately supported several exhibitions of international importance.
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www.tate.org.uk
Tate
In 2017, the Foundation provided over £50 million for the expansion of the Tate Modern, Britain’s national gallery of international modern art. The gift is the largest donation by any contributor in Tate’s history and the Blavatnik Building was named in recognition of the gift. The Foundation has also sponsored exhibitions of major artists such as Hockney, Rothko, Malevich, and Kandinsky.
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David Bowie as The Thin White Duke, Station to Station Tour, 1976 © John Robert Rowlands
V&A
In 2016, the Foundation helped to fund the entrance hall of the Museum’s new wing. The Blavatnik Hall is named in honour of the £5 million gift. In 2023, the Foundation and Warner Music Group jointly provided £10 million to create The David Bowie Centre for the Study of Performing Arts at V&A East and secured 80,000 items from the David Bowie Archive for the nation and the public. In addition, the Foundation has regularly supported exhibitions at the Museum over the years.
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The Blavatnik Fine Rooms at The Courtauld
The Courtauld Institute of Art
In 2020, the Foundation supported a major transformation of The Courtauld, one of the world’s leading centers for the study of art history, research, and conservation, restoring its grandeur and creating state-of-the-art facilities. In recognition of the Foundation’s £10 million gift, a suite of six galleries showcasing some of the greatest works in The Courtauld’s collection, ranging from the Renaissance to the 18th Century, was renamed the Blavatnik Fine Rooms.
More Information
The Princess of Wales and Dr. Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the National Portrait Gallery @ David Perry
National Portrait Gallery
In 2022, the Foundation provided £10 million to support the most extensive redevelopment of the National Portrait Gallery since 1896. As part of the redevelopment, which opened in 2023, the first floor of the museum was renamed the Blavatnik Wing. Other Foundation support has included sponsorship of significant exhibitions and gala events.
More Information
Photo by Rory Mulvey
Royal Academy of Arts
For over 250 years, the Royal Academy has championed art and artists and has been a leading global education centre. In 2018, the Foundation helped support the redevelopment of the entire building, and the main reception room was renamed the Blavatnik Salon. The Foundation has separately supported several exhibitions of international importance.
More Information
www.tate.org.uk
Tate
In 2017, the Foundation provided over £50 million for the expansion of the Tate Modern, Britain’s national gallery of international modern art. The gift is the largest donation by any contributor in Tate’s history and the Blavatnik Building was named in recognition of the gift. The Foundation has also sponsored exhibitions of major artists such as Hockney, Rothko, Malevich, and Kandinsky.
More Information
David Bowie as The Thin White Duke, Station to Station Tour, 1976 © John Robert Rowlands
V&A
In 2016, the Foundation helped to fund the entrance hall of the Museum’s new wing. The Blavatnik Hall is named in honour of the £5 million gift. In 2023, the Foundation and Warner Music Group jointly provided £10 million to create The David Bowie Centre for the Study of Performing Arts at V&A East and secured 80,000 items from the David Bowie Archive for the nation and the public. In addition, the Foundation has regularly supported exhibitions at the Museum over the years.
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See how we support great cultural institutions around the world
The Foundation contributes to renowned institutions that showcase the breadth of arts and culture, including performance, exhibition and education.
Visit the Blavatnik Archive
The Blavatnik Archive is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to preserving and disseminating materials that contribute to the study of 20th-century Jewish and world history, with a special emphasis on World War I, World War II, and Soviet Russia.