The Courtauld in London has announced plans to open two new galleries dedicated to contemporary art, following a £10 million gift from the Blavatnik Family Foundation. This latest donation brings the foundation's total investment in the institute to £20 million. The new Blavatnik Contemporary Galleries are expected to open in 2029 as part of the Courtauld's campus development at Somerset House.
The expansion signals a strategic shift for the Courtauld, historically known for its Impressionist and Old Master collections, into the contemporary art space. The Blavatnik Family Foundation's deep ties to London's cultural institutions—including gifts to the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Royal Academy, and Tate—underscore the growing role of private philanthropy in shaping museum programming and infrastructure in the UK.