Mircea Maria Gerard Foundation
Our mission
Find out more about us and our ethos.
When Mircea passed away suddenly on April 3, 2016, we wanted to take all of the grief, shock and sadness all who knew him felt and channel this energy to remember the joy, kindness and love of a life lost too soon. Rather than a plaque or a tombstone, we decided the best thing to memorialize Mircea was to keep on doing the work he so loved. Read more about our story.
The Foundation’s mission is to empower the art conservation community, particularly through our close partnership with the Associazione Bastioni in Florence, Italy. Together, we support meaningful projects that might not otherwise be undertaken — works of cultural and historical importance that are often overlooked by major sponsors or institutions. We achieve this by endeavoring to
- Enable conservators to experiment with and apply new techniques to preserve Florence’s rich artistic legacy — the very heart of the Renaissance.
- Provide financial and professional support to emerging talent in the field, giving recent graduates the opportunity to begin their careers with mentorship, training, and hands-on experience.
- Ensure that local Florentine communities and global visitors alike can continue to learn from and be inspired by art, history, and the enduring beauty of the human spirit.
Our Structure and Commitment
The Foundation is supported by a Trust, created by Luke Olbrich, Mircea’s husband. The Trust covers all operational expenses of the Foundation, which means that:
100% of every donation goes directly to projects, student scholarships, and conservation initiatives.
Our Partners: Associazione Bastioni
Our work is carried out in partnership with the Associazione Bastioni, a nonprofit collective of over 60 skilled conservators across a wide range of specialisations. Mircea was an active member of this vibrant association, and through it, his legacy continues.
You can learn more about their incredible work by visiting their website.