Ben Uri Gallery & Museum
A registered charity and museum, Ben Uri announced in October 2018 its transformational Sustainability and Public Benefit Strategic Plan. This 20 page document re-visited, re-evaluated and carved forward thinking solutions to an expansive range of traditional museum best practices which were originally designed by, and primarily to reflect the resources of, large institutions – rather than small and medium sized institutions which represent over 80% of the UK (and no doubt European) museum sector. The plan put the future security and capacity to generate ongoing distinctive public engagement and benefit over the principle that every work in the Collection was sacrosanct. The result after 2 years of planning is ‘ benuri org’ which is the first full scale virtual museum and research centre. The transformation, quietly launched in September 2020, into a digital institution complemented by the physical gallery in London’s St.John’s Wood with its expanded art reference library and archive – and housing both research centres on the Jewish and immigrant contribution to British Visual Art since 1900 alongside the Arts & Health Institute which researches art interventions for older people living in social isolation or with dementia. Benuri.org presents over 40 different exhibitions at any on time, 100 pre-eminent world-class, 700 core and 600 reference, collection works, 100+ films, 70+ audio adventures, 200 school programmes, 100 arts and health interventions, 1100 pages of archives, over 500 exhibition records since 1925, scholarly essays and catalogues and some 100 completed research records (out of 1000+ currently work in progress) on those from the Jewish and immigrant communities who have made significant contributions to British visual culture since 1900. Benuri.org is supported by an active presence in over 20 different digital platforms. Already in the first 6 weeks, Ben Uri engages ten times as many visitors than visited the gallery and are convinced this abandonment of our 15 year vision for a large, expensive to buy and maintain, physical museum building reflected the future of our society pre-Covid 19 and most certainly during and post Covid pandemics.

Address
Ben Uri Gallery & Museum108a, Boundary Road
London NW8 0RH
United Kingdom
From the collection
