Belle Shenkman, CM (June 24, 1928 – March 11, 1995) was a Ukrainian-born, London-based Canadian arts patron and fundraiser.
Belle Shenkman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Belle Gubler June 24, 1928 |
| Died | March 11, 1995 |
| Occupation(s) | Arts patron and fundraiser |
| Spouse(s) | Harold Shenkman Desmond Smith |
| Children | 1 son, 1 daughter |
Early life edit
Belle Shenkman was born as Bell Gubler was born on June 24, 1928, in Kiev, now the capital of Ukraine.[1] She emigrated to Canada with her parents when she was three months old.[1]
Career edit
Shenkman organized the first European performance by the National Ballet of Canada, held at the London Coliseum in 1972.[1] She became a member of the Order of Canada in 1979.[1]
Shenkman raised £30,000 for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in 1982.[1] As a result, it performed at Sadler's Wells in London.[1]
Personal life, death and legacy edit
Shenkman, then Gubler, married Harold Shenkman in 1948.[1] They had a son, William, and a daughter, Dasha, and later divorced.[1] She married Major General Desmond Smith in 1979; he died in 1991.[1]
Shenkman died on March 11, 1995, in London.[1] The Belle Shenkman Room at the Royal Academy of Arts is named in her memory.[2]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Goodwin, Noël (March 28, 1995). "OBITUARY:Belle Shenkman". The Independent. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
- ^ Brown, Mark (June 7, 2012). "Royal Academy unveils £5.7m refurbishment plan to pamper friends". The Guardian. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
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