Worcester art gallery to receive second six-figure donation

Martin Cook said he was inspired by a previous significant donation to the museum charity

A second six-figure donation is to be made to Worcester's museum charity which will help develop a new gallery and set up an internship programme.

Philanthropist Martin Cook, who is originally from the city but now lives in the US, is making the "significant" donation, the charity said.

The new gallery will display fine and decorative art, including a nationally important glove collection.

It follows a £300,000 donation made by Prof Rolf Olsen in 2022.

Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum said at the time the money would be spent purchasing more artworks and laying the foundations for the new gallery.

Confirming the second donation, the charity said the new galleries would highlight Worcestershire as "a place of inspiration for artists" and display the work of artists who came to the area to work, including Paul Nash and Laura Knight.

"They will also celebrate Worcester's strength as a centre for design education in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when it supported the city's international porcelain and glove industries," it said.

"At its core will be the new Shirley and Rolf Olsen Gallery, with a permanent display of Worcester's outstanding collection of works by British Impressionist artists."

Prof Rolf Olsen (centre) made his donation in March 2022

Meanwhile, the internships will nurture creative talent in the city and help young people entering the museum profession and establish a national art prize competition, the charity added.

Mr Cook was inspired to make his donation after reading about Prof Olsen's gift and "shares the same enthusiasm and vision to enhance the cultural life of Worcester and hopes that others will follow suit", it said.

The museum intends to show gloves by famous fashion designers such as Manolo Blahnik as part of its exhibition about Worcester's role in the international gloving trade.

Mr Cook added: "I'm keen to play a part in Worcester's cultural development and Professor Olsen's ambitions struck a chord with me.

"My wish is to support the development of the Art Gallery and Museum, celebrate the rich heritage of the city I grew up in and build on Professor Olsen's legacy."

Caroline Naisbitt, from the charity, said it was "extremely grateful" for his very generous donation.