The Gerald Coke Handel Foundation

The Foundation was established and endowed in accordance with the wishes of the late Gerald and Patricia Coke to ensure that his collection (‘the Collection’) of material relating to the life and works of George Frideric Handel would be preserved, developed and made available to the public. The Collection was formally allocated to the Museum under the Acceptance in Lieu scheme and is housed there. Under a 25-year agreement GCHF undertook to fund costs involved in the care and development of the Collection, including staff costs, through grants to the Museum and by advising the Museum on all aspects of the Collection. The terms of a new agreement are being discussed before its expiry in 2027. The primary aim of the Council of Management is therefore to ensure the maintenance, conservation and development of the Collection and to acquire additions to the Collection and to make them accessible to the public. These additions are shown as heritage assets on the balance sheet and are more fully described in Note 9 to the financial statements.