Bakala Foundation and The Design Museum in London extend their cooperation for three more years

“Design is a diverse discipline, infinitely rich in approaches, practically connected to people’s lives and passions. Years ago I became fascinated by the extraordinary way the museum can reflect, present, and explain this influence to the public. I also value the museum’s current contribution in the way it is able to reflect the role of design and designers in the context of social, technological, and environmental changes,” states Zdeněk Bakala, explaining the motives behind the long-term collaboration with the museum . He has been working with the museum for over 10 years, among other things he also served on the Board of Directors of the museum.

In addition to financial support, the Bakala Foundation is cooperating with the Design Museum for the ninth year in the organization of the Kaplicky Internship architectural competition, which enables promising Czech architects to experience a fully paid internship at prestigious world studios. Deyan Sudjic, the Director Emeritus of Design Museum, is a member of the jury of the competition. A long-time friend of Jan Kaplický, Deyan Sudjic helped initiate the start of this competion which is named after the world-famous Czech architect In addition to the Design Museum, the Kaplicky Center Foundation and the Czech Chamber of Architects are also partners of the competition.

Tim Marlow, Chief Executive and Director of the Design Museum said: “I am delighted that the Bakala Foundation is extending its generous support for the Design Museum for a further three years. This agreement marks the beginning of the second decade of our relationship with the foundation, a remarkable partnership supporting a huge breadth of activity across the museum. In the coming years, funding from the Bakala Foundation will provide critical support for our exhibition and learning programs, with a particular focus on engaging young people in the value and impact of design on their lives.”

The Design Museum in London is where the design industry, education and the public meet. It was founded in 1989 by Sir Terence Conran. In 2016, the museum moved to a spectacular modern landmark in Kensington, where it has welcomed more than 2 million visitors since its reopening and won the European Museum of the Year award in 2018. From 2022, Eva Jiřičná, one of the most important architects of Czech origin, is also a member of the museum's Board of Directors.