Arts venue receives £91.2m donation

11 hours ago

Aimee DexterNorfolk

News image — The Sainsbury Centre opened in 1978

Edd Smith/BBC A big grey and white building fills up most of the picture. The front of the Sainsbury Centre is seen, with a massive glass window filling up the whole of the front of the building. There are two sculptures in the foreground. — The Sainsbury Centre opened in 1978

An arts venue in Norfolk has received a £91.2m donation as it plans to revitalise the site.

The Sainsbury Centre, at the University of East Anglia campus in Norwich, has been given the gift by Lord David Sainsbury through his charitable foundation, Gatsby.

The centre said the funding would be used to upgrade its facilities, extend the south cafe terrace and to make it more sustainable.

Its executive director, Jago Cooper, said the donation "secures the future" of the venue.

The Sainsbury Centre was born after a donation by Sir Robert and Lady Lisa Sainsbury of a collection of art to the university in 1974.

The building was designed by Norman Foster and opened in 1978. It was later granted Grade II listed status in 2012.

Lord Sainsbury said: "My father always regarded his commissioning of Norman Foster to produce the Sainsbury Centre as one of the best things he ever did, and it gives me great pleasure to provide the funding to enhance its future."

Cooper added: "Foster's vision for the most radical art museum in the world half a century ago is being revitalised for the next generation of visitors."

John Stillwell/PA Media A man wearing a light coloured jacket, tie and striped shirt standing on the Millennium Bridge in London. People are walking across the footbridge behind him. St Paul's Cathedral is in the background. — Norman Foster's architectural practice also designed the Millennium Bridge in central London

Earlier this year, the university said the attraction welcomed more than 1.16 million visitors, according to figures from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions.

The centre said it had appointed an architectural firm in 2024 to undertake a study to determine which parts of the site should be upgraded or replaced.

It added that it would be renewing entrances, lifts, signage and flooring, while upgrading facilities for visitors and staff.

The university's vice-chancellor and president Prof David Maguire said: ''We are thrilled to receive this exceptionally generous gift.

"It serves to emphasise the national and international artistic and cultural significance of the Sainsbury Centre, a much-admired treasure in the heart of our Norwich campus."

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