The billionaire Jewish family which partially funds the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne, Australia, has said they won't step away despite intense pressure from pro-Palestine activists.
July saw protests outside the NGV, sending the gallery into lockdown, as demonstrators graffitied the walls with the slogan: “NGV funded by Zionists”. Some also held banners reading: “NGV, you can’t hide, you’re supporting genocide."
The march on the gallery was condemned at the time by the premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allan, who labelled it "antisemitic".
The NGV is run by the state government of Victoria, but receives significant funding from The Gandels, one of the country's richest families, with a net worth of around £3 billion primarily from the fashion industry.
Faimly patriarch John Gandel, 90, is a prolific property developer, best known for owning Australia's largest shopping centre, Chadstone. He is also the head of the Gandel Foundation, which makes large donations to community assets – including the NGV.
The gallery has received several million dollars from the foundation, drawing ire from activists due to the family’s vocal support for Zionism.
At the time of the October 7 attacks, John Gandel called on the the IDF to go “all out” in its response. “There’s sort of no choice," he claimed. "If they don’t go all out it means they withdraw. They can’t do it gently."
The foundation also partially finances Australia's birthright program, which is managed by the Zionist Federation of Australia, providing young people with free trips to Israel.
Adam Ognall, CEO of the Gandel Foundation, told the Sydney Morning Herald: “The family is very proud [of its] long partnership and connection with NGV. [It has a] long-term well-documented relationship with NGV and other cultural institutions in Melbourne.”
When asked if that support would be continuing, he answered simply: “Yes.”
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