In the international art community the Whitechapel Gallery is regarded as the ultimate hub of contemporary art in London. Its extraordinary reputation springs from a centenarian presence in the art landscape and its continue efforts to be at the forefront of contemporary art. To appreciate its established success and understand its way ahead one needs to consider its tradition before turning to its recent achievements.

Since its opening in 1901 the Whitechapel Gallery has been a prime player in proposing contemporary art. An early, prominent example of its activism in the visual art sector was the display of the Guernica by Pablo Picasso, which was exclusively showed at the Whitechapel Gallery during its transit to the UK in 1939.
Since its early days, the Whitechapel Gallery distinguished itself for its efforts to foster discussion and stimulate social aggregation among intellectuals and art enthusiasts, whose initiatives were often generously supported by wealthy philanthropists. Its East London district had always been characterized by poverty, diversity and immigration, which often led to social unrest but also boosted a ferment of new ideas. In the 1880s its suburb was the centre of aggregation for Eastern European Jews and Russian political exiles. According to the Whitechapel annals, "a large poverty stricken Jewish ghetto manifested itself in the late 19th century and Whitechapel became synonymous with Anglo-Jewish life." This environment, despite being socially challenging, brought a vibrant energy and a new lifestyle that led to the production and appreciation of innovative art.
Since its establishment the gallery became the natural gathering of a multiethnic society interested in new forms of art. According to the Whitechapel website: "its first exhibition, Whitechapel Open, which included the Pre-Raphaelites, Constable, Hogarth and Rubens, attracted 206,000 local people. The program ranged from showcasing art from Africa, India and Latin America to premiering solo emerging figures such as Picasso, Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock. Through exhibitions such as the Whitechapel Open, the gallery has promoted artists who live and work in the East End of London". Such tradition continues today, and the East London area still nurtures the gallery's activities.

RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS

In light of its centenarian presence in the East London area and in the contemporary art landscape, today Whitechapel has preserved its avant-garde role. In 2008 the gallery underwent a publicly funded British pound 13.5 million refurbishment that lasted two years and annexed the adjacent Passmore Edwards library, almost doubling the gallery space.
In April 2009, Iwona Blazwick OBE, the Director of Whitechapel Gallery, at the press conference of the inaugural re-opening, remarked the importance of the gallery location for its success: "East London is one of the world's crucibles cultures. Its energy and cosmopolitanism combined with its great tradition in architecture, art, cinema, dance, design, literature, music and theatre have contributed to make the Whitechapel Gallery the 21st Century's most vibrant arts centre. I will be working closely with my colleagues and peers to champion this part of the city's incredible cultural offer, to ensure it retains its high profile on the world stage. I want us to exploit the once in a lifetime opportunity that 2012 will bring and to see improved access to culture right across the capital."
In addition to its rich program of exhibitions, the Whitechapel Gallery offers part of its space to showcase works from important art collections, as the ongoing display of pieces from the British Council art collection.
The gallery also runs alternative platforms, as the prestigious Bloomberg Commission, to foster debate on contemporary art and it also assigns the Max Mara Price for Women to reward distinguished female artists based in the UK.
According to the Whitechapel Gallery website, "the Bloomberg Commission invites one international artist per year to create a site-specific artwork inspired by the rich history of the former Passmore Edwards library." Bloomberg supports the gallery's commitment to innovation, and its ongoing efforts to expand access to art, science and the humanities. The Max Mara Prize for Women is jointly organized with the Max Mara fashion group with the aim of supporting and promoting emerging female artists based in the United Kingdom.
The Whitechapel is a shining gem set into a challenging urban environment that since the onset provided a fertile soil for the gallery's activities. In the view of many, the Whitechapel Gallery's world-acclaimed success stems from its ability to absorb the vibes and the diversity of its urban environment and its unabated efforts to stay at the forefront of contemporary art. The way ahead is clear.

Romina PROVENZI is a writer and lives in London. She writes on contemporary art. She is a specialist of the Cuban art market and of the London art scene.

Whitechapel Gallery,77-82 Whitechapel High Street, London. www.whitechapelgallery.org