SEEING THINGS DIFFERENTLY

The Sainsbury Centre’s Chairman, Dominic Christian (SOC79), welcomes its new Director, Prof Jago Cooper.

Dominic Christian Hello, Jago. It’s great to introduce you to our readers. Could you tell us a little about yourself?

Jago Cooper My pleasure. I will be leading the Sainsbury Centre after a decade at the British Museum. I have long been an admirer of the Centre, and UEA more widely, because this is a place that responds to the changing cultural scene very quickly. It is nimble, engages with social issues and is proactive in advocating for why we have art and its importance to society.

DC Those sound very similar to the principles that UEA was founded on, and part of why Sir Robert and Lady Lisa Sainsbury chose our University as the home of their collection. You could say their gift broke many rules because they fused the design of a new building, a collection spanning disciplines and mediums, and investment in research to create great storytelling within the institution.

JC It was undoubtedly a comprehensive vision. The Sainsbury Centre’s impact in the years since proves that. My wish now is to continue to build on their philanthropic vision while responding to the world as it is today. I think the Sainsburys would feel very proud, and I know their family continues to be, too.

DC Could you talk about how philanthropy fits into your plans for the future?

JC Put simply, it’s at the heart of everything we do here. We want our exhibitions to be as inclusive as possible, so we do not seek to make a financial profit with them. Instead, we rely on the kindness and commitment of sponsors and donors, who generously shoulder that financial burden for the benefit of others. We feel our value to society is immeasurable. Still, the reality is we need support, and we are hugely thankful for it.

DC It was invigorating to see that sentiment come to life at the recent Rhythm and Geometry exhibition. I enjoyed seeing pieces from the recent Morris legacy bequest to UEA alongside artworks from the Sainsbury Centre’s existing collection.

JC Joyce and Michael Morris were an extraordinary couple. She was a renowned educationalist and expert in phonics, while he was an art collector of great esteem. The 200 artworks they left to the University were a tremendous gift. Not just because we can now tell the stories of those artworks, but because of the dialogues they create across the collection. The Sainsbury Centre is now the most significant holder of British Constructivist art in the world. By coming here rather than being kept on their own and seen in isolation, we can weave together the threads of 20th-century art. Everyone here is so grateful to them both.

DC You joined the Sainsbury Centre towards the end of the global pandemic. Could you reflect on coming into your role during such a difficult time for the arts and the wider world?

JC There is no doubt that it’s been a tough time for the museum sector. But, by the same token, we have seen that as soon as people had the opportunity to get out again, museums and galleries were one of the first places they visited, reflecting how much they are valued by society. u u DC It was a reminder that people have a fundamental need to open up their lives and fill themselves with thought and imagination.

JC Yes, and I think our recent funding from Arts Council England is a testament to just how influential culture is to us all. We received an incredibly generous grant of £325,000 to help repair the iconic glass facades of the Sainsbury Centre building. The project’s total cost will be over £600,000, so we continue to fundraise for the remaining amount. The work will help bring the astonishing splendour of the Foster-designed space back to life. Philanthropy, just as it has always been, is in the very fabric of the Centre.

DC A perfect note to end on. Thank you so much, Jago.

Legacies At Uea

During The Difference Campaign, gifts in wills have funded a broad spectrum of work at UEA. In addition to Joyce and Michael Morris’ gift to the University (see overleaf), generous individuals have provided financial backing to student businesses through the Enterprise Fund, equipped scientific teaching labs with the latest equipment, funded pioneering prostate cancer research, brought students to UEA through scholarships and much more.

Dominic Christian (SOC79) Global Chairman of Aon Reinsurance Solutions, Co-Chairman, The Difference Campaign Advisory Board and Chairman, Sainsbury Centre

Jago Cooper Executive Director, Sainsbury Centre and Professor of Art and Archaeology, UEA

Gifts in wills, also known as legacies, allow people of all backgrounds to make an enormous difference by supporting UEA’s work. For many, this is a meaningful and accessible way to continue a passion in life long after we are gone.

Thank you to everyone who has pledged a gift to UEA in their will.

If you are thinking of leaving a gift in your will to the University, please contact the Development Office for information and advice, free of expectation or obligation.