The Gabo Trust was established in 1988 by the family of renowned sculptor Naum Gabo (1890-1977). They recognised a growing challenge in the art world: modern and contemporary sculptors often use new and unconventional materials, and there was limited knowledge about how to care for them properly. The Trust was created to help fill that gap by promoting expertise in this evolving field of conservation.
Since then, the Trust has supported a wide range of initiatives. It has funded individual conservators to pursue further training, including internships, research travel, and attendance at conferences and workshops. It has also provided financial assistance for those undertaking postgraduate studies in sculpture conservation.
Institutions have benefited too. The Trust has helped conservation departments acquire essential equipment, improve storage and handling of sculptures, and carry out surveys to assess the condition of their collections.
Beyond hands-on conservation, the Trust also supports the sharing of specialist knowledge, including funding publications on sculpture conservation. It also supports contributions by conservators to the Artists’ Lives oral history project, part of the British Library’s National Life Stories archive which helps preserve the voices and experiences of artists for future generations.