S ince its inception in 1947, British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel (BFAMI) has supported important educational initiatives to highlight the importance of access to art for all. Through long-standing relationships with artists, BFAMI delivers a programme of annual events that underpin the ethos of the Art Museums of Israel. Artist studio visits sit alongside private tours of groundbreaking exhibitions and trips abroad, as well as fundraising events that reinforce their commitment to Israel’s cultural history and legacy.
This week, BFAMI will honour Wendy Fisher, whose committed involvement with the charity spans twenty years, for her ongoing contribution to the cause. As President of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, her dedication to philanthropy in the arts has helped to establish educational programmes in the region, and to amplify the cultural significance of Israel’s museums and galleries on the world stage.
As well as her work on the board of Performa, Jewish Museum of NY, MoMA and Tate, Fisher founded the A4 Art Foundation in Cape Town in 2017, an organisation set up to widen access to the arts in South Africa, delivered through innovative collaborations between artists and local communities.
The exhibition, held at Sotheby’s New Bond Street galleries before the gala dinner and auction, brings together works by the leading figures in Contemporary Art. A work by guest of honour, Isaac Julien CBE RA, is shown alongside that of James Turrell, Michel Craig-Martin, Bosco Sodi and Keith Tyson many of which have been generously donated by Victoria Miro, Blain|Southern, Hauser & Wirth, Thaddaeus Ropac and the Zabludowicz Collection — amongst many others. Altogether, over fifty artists, collectors and galleries have donated works.
The artworks will be offered for sale in an auction on 29 January at The Dorchester on London’s Park Lane, with all proceeds going to support BFAMI. The vital support provided by the organisation will allow them to continue to deliver a dynamic programme firmly rooted in education and development.
An exhibition of all artworks will be available to view at Sotheby’s New Bond Street galleries from Monday 21 to Friday 25 January. To view or bid for the works online please visit Artsy.
To learn more about BFAMI and the programmes the organisation supports, please visit: www.bfami.org.
