Peter L Kellner photographed for the FT by Harry Mitchell, with a painting by Basil Beattie. © The Financial Times Limited 2025.
We are pleased to share news of a significant donation made in honour of artist and long-time educator Basil Beattie RA, recognising his contribution to art and arts education.
Peter L. Kellner, a friend of Basil Beattie and supporter of the arts, has made a £6 million gift to Goldsmiths, University of London. The donation includes both a cash contribution and an art bequest, and is the first to support the new Goldsmiths Endowment Fund. This fund has been set up to help strengthen the future of arts education at the university.
The gift was made in recognition of Basil Beattie's years teaching at Goldsmiths, where his thoughtful and challenging approach shaped the practices of many young artists. Known for his distinctive visual language, Beattie has remained part of a milieu of British artists whose works continue the legacy of Abstract Expressionism.
The donation includes a collection of works by artists such as Antony Gormley, Phillip Guston and Lucio Fontana. These works will be used by the university as part of its teaching and research, and will also support the university’s financial sustainability in the future.
This initiative comes at a time when arts education continues to face funding pressures. The Goldsmiths Endowment Fund offers a new way to support creative teaching and learning, and we are pleased that Basil Beattie’s name is at the heart of this effort.
April 30, 2025
