U.K. Department Store Heiress Gives $13-Million for Arts
March 24, 2011
The British philanthropist Vivien Duffield is donating a total of $13.3-million to 11 U.K. arts and cultural institutions, Bloomberg and The Art Newspaper write.
The Tate Britain museum is the largest recipient, getting about $4-million from the daughter of the former owner of Britain’s Selfridge’s store. The National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Princess Diana’s former home, Kensington Palace, are also among the beneficiaries.
Britain’s government has urged private donors to step up cultural support as it cuts grants to national museums by 15 percent and subsidies to the grant-making Arts Council England by 29 percent.
