Spotlight
Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government for a discussion on the future of democracy in a technology-driven world. The visit included a conversation with Dean Ngaire Woods and the School’s Master of Public Policy class, as well as a meeting with Canadian students. Trudeau’s engagement offered students the opportunity to hear from a former head of government on the evolving challenges facing democratic institutions, public leadership, and governance. The discussion reflected the Blavatnik School’s role as a forum for rigorous exchange among policymakers, scholars, and emerging public leaders.
The National Portrait Gallery’s Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait, supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, presents a vivid centenary reassessment of Monroe through the photographers and artists who shaped her public image. The exhibition foregrounds photography as a powerful means of understanding Monroe’s presence, from early images of Norma Jeane by André de Dienes to later portraits by Philippe Halsman, Eve Arnold, Cecil Beaton, Sam Shaw, and others. Rather than centering the familiar tragedy of Monroe’s final years, the show emphasizes her vitality, intelligence, and expressive range, including images that capture her playfulness, poise, and introspection. It also places celebrated photographs alongside paintings and works made after her death, inviting reflection on the difference between Monroe as a living collaborator and Monroe as a cultural symbol. Film excerpts and portraits together highlight the artistry and complexity behind one of the most enduring figures in modern visual culture. The Foundation’s support helps make this thoughtful exhibition accessible to broad audiences, encouraging renewed engagement with portraiture, cinema, and the construction of public identity.
Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt’s six-part PBS documentary series The American Revolution, supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, reflects a decade of research, collaboration, and documentary craft. The series was created without the benefit of photography or newsreel footage, requiring the filmmakers to develop an impressionistic visual approach supported by reenactments, archival materials, and a large cast of voice actors. Drawing on the work of historians, writers, archivists, and more than 150 historical voices, the documentary seeks to move beyond familiar mythology and present the Revolution as a complex human story. Particular attention is given to the experiences of African Americans, Native Americans, women, and others whose roles have often been underrepresented in traditional accounts of the founding era. By restoring these perspectives to the broader narrative, the series invites audiences to consider the Revolution’s reach across millions of lives and its continuing relevance to questions of liberty, citizenship, and democracy.
New 42 marked its 35th anniversary at its annual gala, celebrating the organization’s work to expand access to the performing arts for young people and families. The event recognized André De Shields, Mary Rose Lloyd, and Sarah Long for their contributions to New 42’s artistic, educational, and community impact. Proceeds from the gala will support programs that introduce young audiences to live performance at the New Victory Theater, incubate new work at New 42 Studios, and create pathways into creative careers through mentorship and youth workforce development. The evening also highlighted major milestones for the organization, including the 30th anniversary of the New Victory Theater and the 25th anniversary of New 42 Studios. Each year, New 42 reaches thousands of New York City schoolchildren through performances, educational resources, partner schools, and youth employment programs. The Blavatnik Family Foundation was among the gala leadership supporting New 42’s continued commitment to arts access, creative learning, and the next generation of artists and audiences.
Providing many of the world's best researchers, scientists, and universities with support, and funding to discover breakthroughs that solve humankind's greatest challenges.
The Foundation contributes to renowned institutions that showcase the breadth of arts and culture, including performance, exhibition and education.
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.
