Delfina Entrecanales facts for kids

Delfina Entrecanales (born April 10, 1927 – died April 1, 2022) was a Spanish-British woman who loved and supported the arts. She was known for helping artists and art projects. She moved to England in 1946.

She started the Delfina Foundation. This is a special group that helps artists. It gives them places to live and work in London. It also has a space to show their art. She stopped working with the foundation in 2020.

Delfina's Early Life and Moves

Delfina Entrecanales was born on April 10, 1927. She came from a wealthy family in southern Spain. Her father, José Entrecanales Ibarra [es], was an engineer. He started a big company called Acciona. Her mother's family was also very modern.

After the Spanish Civil War, many of her relatives had to leave Spain. Her father sent Delfina to Oxford, England. She went there to learn English. She stayed with a scholar and priest named Robert Mortimer. He later became a Bishop of Exeter.

Life in England and a Sad Event

While in Oxford, Delfina met her first husband. He was a banker. They had four children together. Sadly, one of her sons died at age 17 in a car accident. This was a very sad event for her.

After 20 years, her marriage ended. Delfina decided to stay in England. She became a well-known person in society. She also started supporting artists.

Helping Musicians in the 1970s

In the 1970s, Delfina bought a farm in Little Bedwin, Wiltshire. It had several small houses. She let many musicians stay there. They had a place to live and work.

She first helped her friend Robert Wyatt. He was from the band Soft Machine. He was recovering from an accident. She offered him space to set up his recording studio. He recorded his album Rock Bottom there in 1974. Famous musicians like Mike Oldfield played on it.

Delfina wanted to keep helping musicians. But a friend from the Royal College of Art gave her advice. The equipment musicians needed was very expensive. So, she decided to help visual artists instead.

Starting the Delfina Studio Trust

Later, Delfina married her second husband, Digby Squires. He was 25 years younger than her. They were together for 30 years. They worked together to create the Delfina Studio Trust.

Delfina's Help for the Arts

In 1988, the Delfina Studio Trust opened. It was in an old jeans factory in Stratford, east London. Four years later, it moved to a bigger place. This was a former chocolate factory in Bermondsey Street.

A Home for Artists

The new space was amazing. It had rooms for artists to live and work. It also had a gallery to show art. There was even a canteen where artists could eat cheaply.

Many famous artists were supported by the Delfina Studio Trust. These included Glenn Brown, Jane & Louise Wilson, and Mark Wallinger. Some of these artists later won big awards, like the Turner Prize.

The Delfina Foundation Opens

After her second marriage ended, Delfina took a break from helping artists. But in 2005, she went on a trip to Syria. She was with her friend Mark Muller. She then decided to start helping artists again.

In 2007, the Delfina Foundation opened. It was in an old building near Victoria in central London. At first, it focused on artists from the Middle East and North Africa. Now, it helps artists from all over the world.

Expanding the Foundation's Space

Delfina bought the house next door to the foundation. She combined the two buildings. This new, bigger space was designed by Studio Octopi and Shahira Fahmy. It can host eight artists. It also has a library, a shared kitchen, offices, and an exhibition space.

With the new building, the foundation changed its focus. Instead of specific regions, it started focusing on themes. One of its first themes was "the Politics of Food."

A Collector of Artists

Delfina was different from most art supporters. She did not collect art. Instead, she called herself a "collector of artists." She helped over 600 artists worldwide. She said, "I collect artists, not art!"

She loved connecting with artists. She said, "My relationship with the artists is why I've done it... I am like a grandmother, to all of them."

Awards and Recognition

Delfina Entrecanales received many honors. In 2012, she was made a Commander of Order of the British Empire (CBE). This was for her great help to the arts. In 2013, she received The Prince of Wales Medal for Philanthropy in the Arts. A Spanish group also gave her an award in 2016. She retired from the Delfina Foundation's board in 2020.

Delfina's Passing

Delfina Entrecanales passed away on April 1, 2022. She was 94 years old.

See also

In Spanish: Delfina Entrecanales para niños