Large foundation donations put Willumsens Museum in the international league

Willumsens Museum in Frederikssund on northern Zealand will soon undergo extensive refurbishment work, ensuring that in future the museum has just the right facilities for exhibiting works by J.F. Willumsen and international artists.

After receiving donations totalling DKK 36.5 million from the A.P. Moller Foundation, Augustinus Fonden, VILLUM FONDEN and Louis-Hansen Fonden, it will now be possible to realise the ambitious renovation and upgrading of the museum buildings, markedly improving conditions for both art and visitors alike. The renovation will also make it easier for the museum to exhibit works from collaborating museums in Denmark and abroad.

For a number of years, Willumsens Museum and the Municipality of Frederikssund have dreamed of upgrading the museum so that it can house and exhibit J.F. Willumsen’s dynamic art while also hosting international exhibitions and a diversity of artistic experiences in inspiring surroundings. The first step towards realising this dream was taken in 2020 with a donation of DKK 41.2 million from the Municipality of Frederikssund for an indoor climate and security upgrade in the old part of the museum as well as for new storerooms.

With the generous donations from four foundations, it will now be possible to see the entire renovation project through to completion.

The A.P. Moller Foundation has granted DKK 17 million to enhance the visitor experience with a new access road through the park, a new shop and ticket area, a new kitchen and café area as well as improved conditions for the museum’s school service. Augustinus Fonden has granted DKK 10 million for upgrading Willumsens Museum, while VILLUM FONDEN has granted DKK 8.5 million and Aage og Johanne Louis-Hansens Fond has granted DKK 1 million towards optimising the indoor climate and security in the new part of the museum.

At Willumsens Museum, everyone is thrilled with the prospect of the forthcoming renovation work.

“I firmly believe that the museum, with its collections of Willumsen’s explosive and ever-relevant art as well as his collection of older art, which contains many fine pieces, has the potential to be on par with the best. With generous donations from the four foundations and the large sum from the Municipality of Frederikssund to be spent on the buildings, it will be possible to take the museum to a level that Willumsen deserves, and to future-proof museum operations so we can realise all our ambitions,” says museum director Lisbeth Lund.