The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) is to name the entrance hall of its new extension after the American billionaire Leonard Blavatnik. Although the exact sum remains confidential, it is thought to be several million pounds. Blavatnik, who was born in the Ukraine, emigrated to the US and took citizenship. He later moved to London and last year was named the UK's richest man, thanks to his investments in Russia (through Access Industries). In recent years his family foundation has been a major donor to Tate, the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Academy of Arts, as well as the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The V&A’s extension, designed by Amanda Levete, will include a new entrance on Exhibition Road and a large temporary exhibition gallery. It is costed at £49.5m, with £2.5m that still needs to be raised. Other major donors include the Heritage Lottery Fund (£5m), the Garfield Weston Foundation, Sainsbury family trusts and the Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation. Although the opening date has not been announced, it is expected to be next spring. Other current projects at the South Kensington museum include refurbishment of the west cast court and a new enamels gallery.
