London’s Courtauld Gallery will open two new contemporary art galleries at its Somerset House campus, funded by a £10 million ($13.8 million) gift from the Blavatnik Family Foundation. The top-floor spaces, originally built as a display area for the Royal Society in the 18th century, are expected to debut in 2029. The donation brings the foundation’s total support for the Courtauld to £20 million ($27.5 million), following earlier backing for the museum’s 2021 renovation. The new galleries will be programmed in part by students in the Courtauld’s curating master’s program and will host exhibitions connecting historical and contemporary art.
The gift underscores the growing role of billionaire philanthropy in shaping London’s cultural institutions, particularly as the Courtauld deepens its commitment to contemporary art alongside its renowned collection of Old Masters and Impressionist works. The Blavatnik Family Foundation, led by Ukrainian-born billionaire Leonard Blavatnik, has also supported Tate Modern and the National Portrait Gallery. The announcement comes just months after the Courtauld received its largest-ever donation—£30 million from the Reuben Foundation—signaling a major expansion of the museum’s contemporary programming and its integration with academic training.