Fundraising: How You Can Help Sir John Soane's Museum

A GREAT INHERITANCE IN OUR HANDS

Sir John Soane's House at No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields in London has been a public museum and library since the early 19th century.

The son of a country bricklayer, Sir John became a pre-eminent architect and a notable collector and teacher. He built the Bank of England and he was Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy.

He left his house to the nation and it remains much as it was in his day - a living museum with his choice paintings - the Canalettos, the Turners, the Hogarths, drawings by Robert Adam and Sir Christopher Wren, the sculptures and antiquities - and with Grade I interiors such as the celebrated Picture Room and Breakfast Room.

No. 13 has rightly become a mecca for everybody who loves or studies architecture: "the most magical building in London," as the architecture critic Charles Jencks describes it.

It is as relevant and important to us now as it was when his gift was accepted and formalised by Act of Parliament in 1833 four years before his death. Soane's intentions were for his museum to provide inspiration and education for 'amateurs and students in painting, sculpture and architecture', which we continue to uphold.

AN INCREASING DEMAND

The Soane Museum has up to 100,000 visitors each year from all over the world. The museum is also receiving an increasing number of visits from school children and students and each year, many thousands of young people visit the museum as part of organised visits.

But the museum simply does not have the space to offer the type of practical workshop experience that it would it would like to offer. Practical workshops in the basics of architecture such as how an arch is constructed or how a roof is supported are tremendously useful in helping young people appreciate many different types of architecture and construction. But to offer these types of workshop - a new classroom space will be required.

New space is also required for the museum's important collection of architectural drawings, including works by Wren, Chambers, Dance and over 9,000 drawings from the office of Robert and James Adam. Together this collection is one of the greatest gatherings of architectural and decorative drawings in the world. But lack of space prevents the drawings from being housed adequately and study access is severely limited.

Both the drawing collection and the education programme will benefit from the museum's recent acquisition - No 14 Lincoln's Inn Fields - or 'The House Next Door'.

We have some very exciting plans for No. 14, click here for a full screen artist's impression

THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR

In 1823, when Soane needed more space for his collection, he purchased No. 14, the house next door, amd rebuilt it to his design, creating the Picture Room and Monk's Yard on the back of the site. The front part of the house was later sold but with the generous help of the Heritage Lottery Fund and private and corporate donors, No. 14 has been acquired for the Museum's use.

This will provide both a new wing for the Museum and a new lease of life that will enable the development of Sir John's inspiring vision into a new century.

Its elegant interiors are to be authentically restored and opened to the general public so that its acquisition, together with the existing facilities, will enable the creation of a cohesive major centre for the study and enjoyment of architecture.

THE NEW CENTRE

Refurbishment of No 14 will enable the Museum to enhance its work in three particular ways:
· Firstly there will be a specially created children's workshop area that will have direct access into the museum.
· Secondly, there will be a designated archive for the study of architectural and decorative drawings 'the Adam Study Centre'.
· Thirdly, Soane's magnificent collection of architectural models - that are currently not on display to the public- will be housed in a newly created 'Model Room' and exhibition space that will help serve the needs of children, students and the general public in appreciating the skills and role of the architectural model maker; a skill that is as important today as it was in Soane's own time.

MAKING IT HAPPEN

Capital Costs
The museum intends to open No 14 in 2004. But before this can happen it needs to raise a total of £1.3 million to pay for the programme of refurbishment and renovation that is required.

Of this total and to date (September 2002) approximately £700,000 has thus far been raised but that still leaves a total £600,000 to raise.

The total cost of the Education Centre is £350,000

The total cost of the Adam Study Centre is £245,000

The total cost of the Model Room and exhibition space is £490,000

Other costs are £215,000

The museum is happy to discuss how benefactions might be acknowledged.

Revenue Costs

From 2004 the Education activities of the museum will expand and we will have an additional Grade 1 listed building to look after.

Ultimately the museum is seeking to create endowments that will provide for the running costs of the Education Centre - but this will take time to establish. In the short term, the museum will be looking for support to help with the day to day running costs of the Education Centre.

The costs of running No 14 and the activities within it will be in the region of £250,000 pa

HOW YOU CAN BENEFIT

A principal donor is sought to fund the whole of No. 14. A gift of that dimension could provide a naming opportunity or appropriate designation by the donor, company or foundation.

The Study Centre provides an alternative funding opportunity of £160,000.

Other major funding opportunities exist including the designation of the new exhibition areas, the education space and elements of the Adam Centre.

All donors giving £10,000 or more will be recorded in a special Book of Friends and they will be invited to dinners or celebrations which will offer occasions to develop individual special relationships with the Museum and its circle.

Sir John Soane's Museum has become recognised worldwide as one of the finest architectural treasure houses and we are looking worldwide for help. Over the years No. 13 has been enjoyed as a unique location for corporate hospitality and entertainment and our funding appeal is open to ideas and suggestions from those who are contemplating initial or long-term support.

We would be happy to discuss the project with you and to show you the Museum and No. 14, Lincoln's Inn Fields.

WHO TO CONTACT

In order to receive more detailed information about the Education Centre or to arrange a visit to inspect No 14 Lincoln's Inn Fields, please contact:

Mike Nicholson
Development Director
Sir John Soane's Museum
13 Lincoln's Inn Fields
London WC2A 3BP

Tel: +44 (0)20 7440 4241
Fax: +44 (0)20 7831 3957

mnicholson@soane.org.uk

Please note that the museum also has a US Foundation that is registered with the IRS in order to accept 501(c)(3) donations on which US tax payers can claim full tax benefit. Please contact Mike Nicholson in the UK for further details.