The Art Newspaper

London philanthropists support Middle Eastern art

Eislers launch foundation to fund shows at the Tate and British Museum

By Gareth Harris. Web only
Published online: 30 August 2011

Edward and Maryam Eisler (Photo: Dafydd Jones)

LONDON. Husband-and-wife philanthropists Maryam and Edward Eisler have launched a new foundation that will fund curatorial posts, acquisitions and major shows at institutions such as the Tate and the British Museum (BM). The latter has acquired modern and contemporary Iranian works through the new foundation, including two works on paper by Nicky Nodjoumi, three calligraphic scrolls by Golnaz Fathi, and a photograph by Sadegh Tirafkan.

The BM has also appointed Louisa Macmillan as Eisler curator of modern and contemporary Middle Eastern art (one-year post). She has organised an exhibition of works by Syrian artists in the museum’s Addis gallery.

The Eislers are also “lead supporters” of the Gerhard Richter exhibition this October at Tate Modern, curated by director Nicholas Serota, and the institution’s planned 2013 Lichtenstein exhibition. Funding for the acquisition of modern Iranian art at Tate is also part of the foundation’s remit (Maryam Eisler is co-chair of Tate’s Middle East North Africa Acquisitions Committee).

Other Eisler-backed curatorial positions at London institutions will be announced shortly. The foundation will also support residencies, publications and education initiatives.