The very first meeting took place at the House of Commons on Tuesday 18th November 1947 to discuss the formation of an Executive Committee to co-ordinate and supervise the activities of a group of interested 'Friends' in the UK who had expressed their interest to aid the Tel Aviv Museum of Art by obtaining funds for the purchase of works of art or suitable works donated by artists or owners of such works. An Executive Committee was elected that evening with Dr B Stross M.P. being proposed and seconded to chair the committee which was known as the 'Friends of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art'.
Since its founding in 1932 by the first Mayor of Tel Aviv, the mission of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art has been to build bridges between art and the public. The Museum has a growing collection of Israeli and International paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings and photography dating from the 16th century to the present day.
In 1965 the Israel Museum in Jerusalem was founded and the 'Friends of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art' were approached by the Israel Museum to help raise funds for the acquisition of works for their museum which they agreed to do. It was agreed they should be known as the British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel and received their registered charitable status on 19th January 1967.
Today, the Israel Museum is the largest cultural institution in the State of Israel as well as the nation's encyclopaedic art museum and ranks among the great art museums of the world.
The Young Friends reaches out to a younger group of friends who will be the major supporters of the museums in the future. The funds raised through their events helps to underwrite the youth projects at both major museums.
