Historic $12 million donation establishes the Manton Centre for British Art at The Courtauld gallery

The Courtauld art gallery in central London has received a huge $12 million (£9.4 million) donation to create the Manton Centre for British Art.

Courtauld Gallery – Somerset House

The Manton Foundation, founded by British art collectors and philanthropists Sir Edwin Manton and Florence Lady Manton, has made a donation to support the creation of the new art centre and a long-term range of educational services.

Sir Edwin Manton was a British art collector who made his fortune managing the USA-based American International Group (AIG). He was knighted in 1994 for charitable services to the Tate Gallery, as he was, after Sir Henry Tate, the most generous benefactor in its history.

After his death in 2005, a USA-based charitable foundation was set up to continue his philanthropic work, and that foundation has now donated $12 million to The Courtauld Gallery.

Initially located at The Courtauld’s campus at Vernon Square near King’s Cross, the newly created Manton Centre will later be housed in the purpose-designed premises at Somerset House, providing a permanent home for The Courtauld’s research and teaching on British art.

The Courtauld’s specialists in British art will become members of the Centre and help shape its activities and development.

Once open, the Centre will operate as the base for students taking modules in British art as part of their MA degree and also provide a home for The Courtauld’s PhD students researching British art.

Professor Mark Hallett, Märit Rausing Director, said: “This is a thrilling moment for The Courtauld. Our new Manton Centre will place British art in a global context, and aim to deliver truly world-class teaching and research in this rich, endlessly fascinating field of study. The Centre will support students through a generously endowed programme of scholarships, and offer a dynamic programme of activities and events across the year. We are hugely grateful to the Manton Foundation for their generous gift, which will enable us to support the very best new thinking and teaching on British art for generations to come.”