The new London Museum of Photography, owned by Swedish gallery Fotografiska, is set to be completed in the second half of 2018
The new museum will be based in London’s Whitechapel. It will comprise 89,000 square feet on the lower ground floor plus offices. The space has been rented by Fotografiska for 15 years (with a break option at 12 years).
“Fotografiska has for a long time been searching for suitable facilities in London, one of the world’s most dynamic cities when it comes to photography,” says Tommy Rönngren, founding partner and chair of the board of Fotografiska London. “Whitechapel, which is one of London’s most dynamic areas, will be a perfect location. It will be really exciting to bring the concept of Fotografiska to London.”
Fotografiska was founded by brothers Jan and Per Broman. The company already has a contemporary photography centre in Stockholm, The Swedish Museum of Photography, as Blooloop previously reported.
This opened in 2010 and shows four major exhibitions per year. The majority of Fotografiska’s revenue comes from entrance fees. The Swedish centre currently charges SEK135 [£12] for adults while children under 12 go free. It attracts over 500,000 visitors per year.
The organisation also said to be signing a lease to rent 45,000 square feet (all six floors) of the 281 Park Avenue South building in New York.
The eight-storey White Chapel building is currently being reconfigured by Fletcher Priest architects. It is set for completion in 2018. Phase 1 of the redevelopment saw the creation of a new public entrance and atrium, and included a cafe and bar.
It is close to Central House, which is currently home to the Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design, and to Whitechapel Gallery, which underwent extensive expansion in 2009.
The V&A has also announced a new photography centre in London, which is due to open in autumn 2018.
Image Courtesy Derwent London
https://www.bjp-online.com/2017/08/fotografiska-to-open-a-london-museum-of-photography/
