Bonita Trust Support V&A's Work in India

The Bonita Trust donated £150,000.00 to support the V&A’s work in India over the next two years. This will enable the V&A to further develop its partnerships with museums and the cultural sector in India and to deliver an art programme that promotes skill sharing and cultural understanding between the two countries.

The V&A has a long history of working with India on a wide variety of projects from curatorial exchanges and fellowship programmes to touring exhibitions. Earlier this year, V&A Director, Sir Mark Jones accompanied the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, to India to sign a state to state cultural agreement. Funding given by the Bonita Trust to the V&A will help the Museum do its part to deliver that agreement.

Some activities supported by the Bonita Trust are already underway and include:

• V&A partnership with the Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata to produce a joint exhibition of Kalighat Paintings which will open at the Victoria Memorial Hall later this year before touring to several other venues across India;
• Support for the digitisation of the V&A’s significant collection of Indian Company Paintings as part of a joint project with other UK and Indian museums;
• V&A expert advice on Far Eastern collections in Hyderabad and Gwalior, India;
• A professional development programme including two 6-month internships for Indian textile conservators within the V&A’s conservation department.
  

Ruth Parasol, principal benefactor and founding member of Bonita Trust’s International Advisory Board, said: - "Bonita Trust is once again proud to fund a world class art educational and digitisation project with the V&A; this cross border project will preserve skills and leave lasting educational value in Indian culture and art."

Kate Bellamy, V&A’s Head of International Strategy, said: "We are grateful to the Bonita Trust for supporting the V&A’s work in India. The funding will enable the Museum to build lasting relationships and reach new audiences by bringing together the knowledge, collections and skills of the V&A and our partners right across India."

Notes to Editors

About the Bonita Trust

The Bonita Trust (www.bonitatrust.org) is a philanthropic trust established under Gibraltar law in 2004, and since then, has committed over £9.0million to philanthropic projects worldwide. Bonita’s focus remains on Enterprise and Education, Prevention and Treatment and Community. Bonita’s grant making is guided by its International Advisory Board whose founding member and principal benefactor is Ruth Parasol.

Contacts

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For further PRESS information about the Bonita Trust please contact Vivian Morello Martinez on

+350 200 50520