Visitors in Introductory Gallery at the Foundling Museum

Photo: Foundling Museum/Fernando Manoso Borgas

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Foundling Museum makes ‘urgent’ appeal to secure future

The institution is seeking £1m in additional funding by September to secure the long-term future of its building and collections.

India Stoughton
2 min read

London's Foundling Museum has revealed it has a matter of months to raise enough money to extend the lease on its current premises and secure its long-term future.  

The museum, which celebrates the lives of care-experienced people and tells the story of the Foundling Hospital – which has now become children’s charity Coram – was set up by Coram in 1998 to show off its art collection. 

The two signed an agreement in 2002, under which Coram lent its collection to the museum, while allowing it a 25-year period to raise money to buy the pieces.

While the current lease on the building, and the time afforded to the museum to buy the collection, comes to an end in 2027, the museum has said it needs the money by September in order to still be able to utilise existing pledges and donations and to attract investment for building maintenance and environmental sustainability work. It said that unless this is achieved, the opportunity will be lost.

The museum has raised more than £3.6m in donations to date, leaving a total of £1m needed before September. 

“We have a wonderful once-only chance to secure the Foundling Museum’s long-term future. The appeal is urgent and critical,” said the museum’s Chair, Larissa Joy.

“By helping, [benefactors] can ensure the museum and the extraordinary story it tells will be with us for generations to come and that the museum can continue its vital work to improve the lives of children, young people and families through the arts.”

The museum’s patron, HRH The Princess of Wales, said that the organisation has delivered “pioneering creative programmes and life-changing support to families and young people for over 20 years”.

“The museum’s work opens the door to new opportunities for vulnerable children and young people, connecting them with artists and developing skills which they can take into their adult lives,” she said. 

“By helping them to undertake this journey, we can create positive, lasting change that benefits our society as a whole.”