Museum of London announce DLA Piper as first corporate supporter for new museum project.
The Museum of London has today announced that global law firm, DLA Piper, has become the first corporate supporter of its New Museum project, one of the biggest cultural projects currently happening anywhere in Europe.
The project will see the Museum of London transform a suite of Victorian and 20th Century market buildings in West Smithfield into a new Museum, fit to tell the story of London and Londoners at the historic heart of the city. At its new home, the Museum will double visitor numbers with more exhibitions and a broader appeal, whilst delivering significant economic and social benefits for London and Londoners.
DLA Piper, whose new London office on Aldersgate will be located minutes away from the Museum’s new home at West Smithfield will become the project’s inaugural Corporate Champion.
The announcement sees DLA Piper become the latest high profile supporter to commit its backing for this transformational project. Last year the Museum announced that the Mayor of London and City of London Corporation would be formally supporting the project, together pledging £180million, alongside a £10m commitment from the Goldsmiths’ Company and its affiliated Charity.
Sharon Ament, Director of the Museum of London, said of the partnership:
“DLA Piper is a leader in its field, with a global reach, and also shares with us a real passion for London, so it is fantastic that the firm has become the New Museum’s first corporate supporter. This is a wonderful commitment to the future of this great city and its people and DLA Piper’s support for our vision will become a model for other major businesses and organisations to get involved with this truly transformational project.”
Simon Levine, Global Co-CEO at DLA Piper, commented:
“At the heart of our global business is a commitment to innovation and a culture of diversity and inclusion which perfectly chimes with the values and ambitions of the new Museum of London. The firm has been a corporate supporter of the Museum of London for many years, and the New Museum, just a short stroll from DLA Piper’s new London office at 160 Aldersgate, marks an important cultural milestone for our own people as well as the city as a whole.”
Catherine McGuinness, Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation, said:
“My colleagues and I send our sincere thanks to DLA Piper for its significant investment in the New Museum of London. A leading City firm and now, firmly established as the first corporate sponsor of the New Museum, DLA Piper should take pride in its contribution towards this landmark building in Culture Mile.”
The Museum’s new home will help it meet key operational objectives such as the expansion of its educational programmes and improvement of its back-office facilities. The Museum of London will begin a comprehensive programme of engagement with Londoners on initial concepts for the West Smithfield site in the autumn. Its aspirations are to achieve a successful planning consent in 2020, to start construction in 2021.
