Engelhardts of gold

We're delighted to announce that the Cardiff Story has received an very generous donation from Diane and Henry Engelhardt, CEO of Admiral Insurance, based in Cardiff. The Engelhardts' pledge is a huge boost to the project, and on Tuesday 2nd February Henry met with Museum Manager Dr Kate Howe and members of the newly formed Development Trust. Kate showed Henry around the Old Library building which will host the new museum and talked him through how his donation will be used to create innovative displays and learning activities. 

The Cardiff Story, which will open in autumn this year, will look at the city's history through the eyes of the people who have lived and worked here, with the first galleries looking at how Cardiff was shaped by the city's trade and industry, and the people who came to Cardiff from all over the world to work in them. Henry Engelhardt is himself, like so many of his predecessors, an economic migrant and has played a key role in the development and history of Cardiff, with Admiral being one of the first financial service companies to set up in the city back in 1993. This money ensures that the first phase of the Cardiff Story will be delivered at the end of 2010.

Museum Manager of the Cardiff Story Kate Howe, said: "I would like to personally thank Henry for his very generous donation and practical support of our project. As we begin to move out of recession Henry is leading the way for business and private benefactors to demonstrate that they want to give something back to the communities their businesses have developed in, and this kind of cultural philanthropy is the way forward. Like the original Victorian entrepreneurs who founded a Cardiff museum and free library in the Old Library building in the 1880s, Henry's donation to the museum means that his role in the city will be cemented in time."

Henry Engelhardt said: ‘My wife and I are great believers in the need for a museum of Cardiff to celebrate its residents who have been drawn to the city from all backgrounds and cultures. I am able to offer my personal pledge to ensure the vision for the museum becomes a reality. As a condition of my offer I have asked Kate to ensure that this is directed towards the newly formed charitable development trust to kick-start its funding drive in seeking donations from private benefactors and the city's thriving business community."

ID: 523   Revised: 4/2/2010