Very Dirty Money –
March 20, 2018 – The National Portrait Gallery is facing scrutiny over a proposed £1m donation from the Sackler family following allegations that the American dynasty’s fortune is tainted by the US opioid crisis. The gallery is one of a number of British cultural and academic institutions in line for substantial donations from members of the Sackler family, which is locked in a growing controversy over its connection to one of the worst drug crises in US history. Despite questions over the nature of the family’s philanthropy, institutions including the Courtauld Institute of Art and the University of Edinburgh are in line for significant donations this year, records obtained by the Guardian show. The National Portrait Gallery is currently reviewing the £1m pledge, which was made in 2016, in line with its ethical fundraising policy. It said no money had yet been received and the review was usual practice for significant donations.
