The Foundling Museum is the only museum to celebrate care-experienced people, and all those who care for them. It is the only foundling hospital museum in the world that has an art collection donated by artists. The Foundling Museum tells the story of the Foundling Hospital, founded in 1739 as a home for children whose mothers couldn’t keep or care for them. It was the UK’s first children’s charity, now named Coram, and the first public art gallery, now sited at the Foundling Museum.
Artists made it London’s most fashionable cause and destination as well as the UK’s first public art gallery. William Hogarth donated many of his own works and persuaded other artists to do the same. George Frideric Handel conducted benefit concerts of Messiah in the chapel and Charles Dickens was a supporter too. Their astonishing generosity and determination show that art transforms lives and encourages philanthropy. Taking a lead from Hogarth and keeping his innovative and disruptive spirit alive, we don’t believe our museum should be a static display of things. We use our art and objects to unravel the past and keep its stories alive and relevant. Through our Foundling Fellows, we also drive projects with outstanding creative individuals to continue transforming young lives. Fellows include: Sir Quentin Blake CH CBE, Lily Cole, Sam Lee, Sir Grayson Perry CBE, Lemn Sissay OBE, Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, Jonny Banger and Dame Jacqueline Wilson DBE.
Always groundbreaking, today our training and mentorship programme for care-experienced young people stays true to our pioneering story. Using creative action to improve the lives of children and young people, our artist founders set the pattern for our campaigning projects today. Proud to be the first, we continue to take the lead.
The Foundling Museum is an independent charity that receives public funding from Arts Council England.