Welcome to The Elmley Foundation
The Elmley Foundation is an independent grantmaking charity which supports the arts in the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
The Foundation was endowed by the late Countess Beauchamp of Madresfield Court near Malvern. She was the Danish-born widow of the eighth and last Earl Beauchamp who was known as Viscount Elmley until he succeeded his father to the House of Lords in 1938.
The purpose of The Elmley Foundation is to continue the tradition of encouragement of all forms of the arts, crafts and design which has been associated with Madresfield Court over many generations. In doing so, the Foundation perpetuates Madresfield’s considerable influence on the cultural life of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
The Foundation believes strongly in initiating ideas to fill gaps and generally develop the arts scene in the two counties. To this end it founded Herefordshire and Worcestershire Arts Development Ltd and works closely with the trustees of this company who add to the Elmley Foundation's investment by attracting money from other sources to promote schemes. The Foundation's independence is much valued by artists, arts organisations and the various statutory bodies involved and is consequently influential in cultural planning for the two counties.
Around £300,000 is spent each year in grants and on schemes initiated by the Trustees.
The Foundation runs two schemes, the Main programme and the Elmley Small Grants scheme.
THE ELMLEY FOUNDATION FORUM
The Forum is a new venture. Leaders of all kinds rarely get the chance to reflect together at a serious intellectual, philosophical level on the many underlying forces which affect the world and our society. Feelings of concern and frustration among senior people in all walks of life are widespread, and the imperative to take action, or be seen to be doing so, can easily be mixed with anxiety about consequences and the wider context. Hardly ever do we have space to reflect on the underlying forces, even though to do so in an intellectual environment can be stimulating and help to build confidence.
The Elmley Foundation, the leading cultural grantmaking body in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, has therefore created an opportunity for leaders of the public, professional, private and voluntary sectors in the two counties to discuss Big Questions in a local context.
Senior figures from local government, judiciary, the arts, police, church, health and emergency services, academics, business and the voluntary sector came together in a unique environment. Particular appreciation has been voiced for the in-the-round format and the emphasis on interactive debate.
After a very successful inaugural event at Malvern Theatres in October 2010, when the discussion was led by Professor John Gray (author of the universally admired Straw Dogs and many other books), the second event took place on 7th March 2011 at The Point4 in Hereford.
Geoff Mulgan, Director of The Young Foundation, founder of the influential think-tank Demos, former policy adviser at No. 10 and consultant to heads of governments around the world led a discussion on Fairness and Happiness.
On 5th March 2012, Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, led a discussion on Freedom and Restraint. This event was hosted by West Mercia Police in their Headquarters at Hindlip Hall, Worcester.
Plans are being laid for an October 2012 event led by the Chief Rabbi, Lord Jonathan Sacks.
For further details, please email forum@elmley.org.uk.
