SAVE THE FOUNDLING MUSEUM
This is a once-only chance to secure the future of the Foundling Museum with a 999-year virtual freehold of the historic building and custodianship of the Foundling Hospital Collection. Fundraising began last year towards the required £4.6m and today totals £4.35m. All the Museum needs by the end of September is the remaining £250,000.
The Foundling exists to improve the lives of children and young people through the arts, particularly care-experienced young adults and early years children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Housing a nationally important collection of 18th century art by Hogarth, Reynolds, Gainsborough and performance parts of Handel’s Messiah, the Museum sits on the very site of the Foundling Hospital, the UK’s first children’s charity, first public art gallery, and the origins of modern philanthropy.
Many involved in textiles will also know of the moving story -- and historical importance -- of the mid-18th century cloth 'tokens' left with children to facilitate their identification and, if possible, reunification with their family. If you would like to donate, please follow this link. Gifts of £500 or more will be acknowledged (optional) and all those giving £100 or more will be invited to a special Director’s Tour of the forthcoming exhibition, The Mother and the Weaver, to thank you in person.
Images and text courtesy of The Foundling Museum.
Find out more:
foundlingmuseum.org.uk