Unveil history

Become a Patron

Cycladic hunter-warrior figurinec.2300–2200 BC

Cycladic figurines were made in the early part of the Greek Bronze Age. They were created by the early inhabitants of the Cyclades, the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. The purpose of these mysterious white marble figurines is unknown.

This figurine represents a male hunter-warrior, one of only four known relatively complete examples of its type. Even among other hunter-warriors, this object is exceptional for the distinctive shape of its head, allowing us to identify the artistic tradition it belongs to and its approximate date of 2200 BC.

This particular example has a fascinating story. It came from the collection of the surrealist artist Wolfgang Paalen. During the 1940s and 1950s, Paalen’s work played a major role in changing how abstract art was conceived. Paalen used his collection, formed mainly in Paris in the 1920s and 1930s, for artistic inspiration. His ‘Cycladic’ paintings of the mid-1930s are clearly highly influenced by the figurines, probably this very one.

Opportunities to acquire prehistoric objects of this kind are extremely rare as very few survive. Patrons supported the acquisition of this figurine in 2011, raising over £250,000. It is now on display in the Museum for millions of visitors to enjoy every year, thanks to the generosity of Patrons.

Become a Patron

Since its foundation in 1759, the British Museum has been a source of inspiration. Today, the Museum’s collection of 8 million objects embodies nearly 2 million years of the history of humanity. As a Patron of the Museum, you will be at the heart of a community of curious minds, providing vital support to the Museum’s mission to share this rich collection and wealth of knowledge with the world.

Home to one of the largest and most comprehensive collections in existence, and as a leader in scholarship and research, the British Museum is a remarkable cabinet of curiosities. As a Patron you will be guided through the diverse cultures of the world, enabling you to deepen your knowledge in subjects that you are passionate about, all in the company of a dynamic group of like-minded supporters.

As a Patron you will get closer to the areas in which you are particularly interested – from behind-the-scenes tours and Patrons’ previews of major exhibitions, to opportunities to travel to cultural sites around the world with expert curators. Patrons are shown through the secret doors, metaphorical and real, in this extraordinary institution. I do hope you will become part of this vibrant group.

I look forward to seeing you at the Museum soon.

Laura WeinstockChairman of the Patrons of the British Museum

For all studious and curious persons

The Great Court.

Laura Weinstock. Photo: Alastair Fyfe.

Starting at £1,500 per year, or £125 per month, there are four Patron Circles to choose from. Each provides a unique selection of benefits, meaning you can pick the option most suited to you. Whether that’s opportunities to meet other Patrons at exclusive exhibition previews or bespoke tours for you and your guests with the Museum’s expert curators, the Patrons’ programme offers the chance to get closer to the world’s greatest encyclopaedic Museum.

Sloane Circle£12,000 annuallyDonation £10,500 or moreBenefit value £1,500*

Cracherode Circle£6,000 annuallyDonation £5,000 or moreBenefit value £1,000*

Brooke Sewell Circle£3,000 annuallyDonation £2,250 or moreBenefit value £750*

Godman Circle£1,500 annuallyDonation £1,000 or moreBenefit value £500*

* Patron membership consists of two parts: a fee that covers the taxable benefits package, and a discretionary donation to support the work of the British Museum, which qualifies for Gift Aid.

Becoming a Patron

Thomas Kiely, A.G. Leventis Curator for Ancient Cyprus speaking with guests at an exhibition preview.Photo: Benedict Johnson.

‘Sir Hans Sloane’s bequest to the nation in 1753 established the British Museum as a collection for all studious and curious minds to enjoy. The generosity of Patrons is vital in continuing Sloane’s legacy and upholding the Museum’s founding ideals of sharing the collection with the world.’Hartwig Fischer, Director

The British Museum is one of the oldest public museums in the world, and today it is one of the most visited museums globally. With almost 6 million visitors annually, and as a lender of more objects than any other institution, your generosity as a Patron has an international impact.

Patrons’ support is directed to the areas of greatest need and is vital in making the Museum’s founding Enlightenment ideals a continuing reality. Your contribution can be seen in all aspects of the Museum’s work: from ground-breaking exhibitions, significant acquisitions and conservation of the collection, to innovative educational and international training programmes that exemplify the Museum’s commitment to share its expertise with people the world over.

Below are just a few examples of the areas in which your generosity could make a difference:

£25,000 Could support a temporary display showing objects from the collection in a new light

£13,000 Could fund all of the Museum’s Gallery Attendants for one day

£5,900 Could fund the work of all Museum Conservators for one day

£2,600 Could support the running costs of the Museum’s Scientific Research department for one day

£1,000 Could fund 10 ‘cultures-in-contact’ workshops, helping refugees and migrants improve their English through learning about Museum objects

Your impact

Photo: Benedict Johnson.

Patron Circles

Godman Circle£1,500 annually, or £125 monthlyBenefit value £500

Through preview events with like-minded supporters, Godman Circle Patrons will have the opportunity to engage with the Museum’s world-class exhibitions. You will also enjoy out-of-hours tours and talks, hosted by expert curators.

Benefits include:• an invitation to the Patrons’ Open

House – a night at the Museum exclusively for Patrons

• invitations to Patrons’ previews of major exhibitions and new gallery openings

• curator-led tours of exhibitions and galleries • opportunities to view the Museum’s major

exhibitions outside of Museum opening hours at regular early-morning viewings

• free entry for you and a guest to all paying exhibitions

• regular updates, including the British Museum Magazine, Patrons’ event programmes and seasonal guides to exhibitions, talks and events at the Museum

• a dedicated contact in the Patrons Office, including assisted booking for public and Members’ events

• acknowledgement in the Annual Review • 10% discount in the Museum’s shops,

cafés and restaurants.

Edith and Frederick DuCane GodmanIn 1983, the British Museum received an extraordinary bequest from Edith Godman (1896–1982): a collection of some 600 ceramics from medieval Iran and the Ottomon world, along with Hispano-Moresque pottery from Spain. This collection had been put together by one of the great collectors of Islamic art – Edith’s father Frederick DuCane Godman (1834–1919). Frederick was an ornithologist and Trustee of the British Museum, well known for his pioneering work of 63 volumes Biologia Centrali Americana – a survey of flora and fauna of Mexico and Central America. Photo: Alastair Fyfe.

Patron Circles

As a member of the Brooke Sewell Circle, you will be given access to unique Museum experiences and events. This includes the annual Director’s dinner, visits behind the scenes and trips abroad with Museum experts, who will guide you around some of world’s most exciting historical and cultural locations.

Brooke Sewell Circle Patrons enjoy all Godman Circle benefits, as well as:• the opportunity to take part in the

Patrons’ international travel programme, accompanied by Museum curators – past trips have included St Petersburg, Sicily and Iran. Trips typically last between a week and 12 days*

• an invitation to the annual Director’s dinner• the opportunity to explore the Museum’s

collection behind the scenes through intimate group tours

• tours of exhibitions at other museums and galleries

• additional invitations to the Patrons’ Open House for up to four guests.

Brooke Sewell Circle£3,000 annually Benefit value £750

Percy Thomas Brooke SewellPercy Thomas Brooke Sewell (1878–1958) was a Norwegian merchant banker who admired the arts of India and the Far East and desired that they should be more worthily represented in the galleries of the Museum. He created two separate funds for this purpose, one by gift and one by Will, which gave generations of curators the means to enhance the Museum’s collection.

* Available at an additional cost and subject to availability

Photo: Alastair Fyfe.

Patron Circles

Cracherode Circle£6,000 annually Benefit value £1,000

As a Patron of the Cracherode Circle you will enjoy remarkable experiences both at the Museum and other leading cultural institutions. You will be introduced to private collections, take part in hard-hat tours of British Museum projects and enjoy an out-of-hours visit to your favourite gallery or exhibition.

Cracherode Circle Patrons enjoy all Brooke Sewell Circle benefits, as well as:• the opportunity to organise one private

visit to an exhibition or gallery of your choice for you and up to 10 guests*

• invitations to special off-site events, including private collection tours

• invitations to hard-hat visits of gallery projects

• advance booking for the Patrons’ international travel programme

• advance booking for behind-the-scenes and off-site events.

Clayton Mordaunt CracherodeClayton Mordaunt Cracherode (1730–1799) was a learned bibliophile and his collection included not only books, prints and drawings but also coins, medals and fossils. He was a Trustee of the British Museum from 1784, and a fellow of both the Royal Society and the Society of Antiquaries. When he died in 1799 he left all his collections, with the exception of three major items, to the British Museum. His gift was a landmark in the development of the Museum and provided a foundation on which comprehensive schemes of acquisition could be based. * Subject to availability and location accessibility

Patron Circles

As a Sloane Circle Patron you will enjoy a relationship with the Museum and its historic global collection which is tailored to your interests. As a vital supporter of the Museum’s work, you will be a part of a distinguished circle, committed to the long-term success of the British Museum.

Sloane Circle Patrons enjoy all Cracherode Circle benefits, as well as:• an invitation to join the annual Director’s

weekend trip*• the opportunity to organise a bespoke

behind-the-scenes tour for you and up to five guests**

• an invitation to the annual Sloane Circle supper at the Museum – an intimate evening, hosted by the Director, with senior curators and Museum staff in attendance

• the opportunity to hire the British Museum for private evening events at weekends.***

First time British Museum Patrons wishing to join the Sloane Circle are asked to commit to three years’ membership.

Sloane Circle£12,000 annually Benefit value £1,500

Sir Hans SloaneA physician by trade, Sir Hans Sloane (1660–1753) was also a collector of objects from around the world. By his death in 1753 he had collected over 71,000 items. Sloane bequeathed his collection to the nation in his Will – the founding collection of the British Museum.

*Available at an additional cost **Subject to availability and location accessibility ***Available at an additional cost and subject to availability

Photo: Alastair Fyfe.

Scheme overview

Patron Circles

Benefits overview

Sloane Circle £12,000 £1,500 £10,500 or more

Cracherode Circle £6,000 £1,000 £5,000 or more

Brooke Sewell Circle £3,000 £750 £2,250 or more

Godman Circle £1,500 £500 £1,000 or more

£12,000 £6,000 £3,000 £1,500

Director’s weekend trip X

Bespoke behind-the-scenes tour for you and five guests X

Invitation to the Sloane Circle supper, hosted by the Director X

Museum hire for private events (Saturday and Sunday evenings) X

One private visit to an exhibition or gallery of your choice for you and up to 10 guests X X

Off-site curator-led visits – studio tours and private collections X X

Hard-hat visits to Museum projects X X

Advance booking for the Patrons’ international travel programme, and behind-the-scenes and off-site events X X

Patrons’ international travel programme (two trips per year) X X X

Director’s dinner X X X

Behind-the-scenes group visits X X X

Tours of exhibitions at other museums and galleries X X X

Patrons’ Open House X + 4 guests X + 4 guests X + 4 guests X

Patrons’ previews of exhibitions and new galleries X X X X

Curator-led tours of exhibitions and galleries X X X X

Regular early-morning views of exhibitions X X X X

Free entry to all exhibitions for you and a guest X X X X

British Museum Magazine, Patrons’ event programmes and seasonal Museum event guides X X X X

A dedicated contact in the Patrons Office, with assisted booking for public and Members’ events X X X X

Acknowledgement in the Annual Review X X X X

10% discount in the Museum’s shops and restaurants X X X X

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In addition to Patron Circles, there are a number of Special Interest Groups that support acquisitions in specific areas of the Museum’s collection. Special Interest Groups are invited to a number of events throughout the year – linked to the areas of the collection they are supporting – and have close contact with the relevant curators. Contemporary and Modern Middle East Acquisitions Group (CaMMEA)CaMMEA supporters provide essential funding to help acquire contemporary and modern works of art from the Middle East. Ottley GroupOttley Group supporters donate to the acquisition of pre-1900 European drawings. Vollard GroupVollard Group supporters help to fund the acquisition of post-1945 prints and drawings. If you are interested in joining a Special Interest Group and would like to contribute towards expanding and sustaining a particular area of the Museum’s collection, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Special Interest Groups

Photo, previous page: Benedict Johnson.

Simon Vouet (1590–1649), St Mary Magdalene. Black and white chalk on paper, 1640–1649. Funded by the Ottley Group.

To join, or for more information, please contact the Patrons Office:

Patrons OfficeDevelopment DepartmentThe British MuseumGreat Russell StreetLondon WC1B 3DG+44 (0)20 7323 8134patrons@britishmuseum.org

Gift MembershipPatron Gift Membership is also available. For further information, please contact the Patrons Office.

American Friends of the British MuseumIf you would like to become a Patron through the American Friends of the British Museum, a New York-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation, please contact the Patrons Office for further details.

Contact us

‘There was this sense that there were people

here in this museum who were prepared quite

literally to open up the ancient world to me.’

Mary Beard speaking about her first visit to the British Museum

© The Trustees of the British Museum 10/2018