Elmley Foundation

The Elmley Foundation is an independent grantmaking charity rooted in perpetuating the historic tradition of arts, crafts, and design from Madresfield Court, with a mission to strengthen visual, performing, and literary arts alongside crafts, design, and heritage across Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Core values of continuity, creativity, and inclusivity drive its proactive ethos, believing independent, locally attuned investment fosters vibrant regional cultural life, community resilience, identity, and inclusion. It supports artistic quality, innovation, public access, creative development, and long-term legacy through direct grants, partnerships, and initiated schemes, prioritizing grassroots to professional entities for sustainable cultural impact.

Thematic priorities center exclusively on the arts sector, funding theatre productions, music performances, literary festivals, visual arts exhibitions, crafts workshops, design innovations, and heritage preservation initiatives that expand access and stimulate creativity. It backs professional arts companies like theatres and orchestras, grassroots community groups delivering inclusive cultural events, individual artists pursuing training and development, and cross-sector projects including rural touring arts, creative workshops for public engagement, county festivals promoting literary and performing arts, and cultural conferences fostering dialogue. Supported activities encompass event programming, equipment for creative production, facilities enhancing arts delivery, community arts funds for participatory activities, and interventions addressing cultural gaps through innovation, community-led programming, and heritage-led identity building, aiming for enduring benefits like enhanced social cohesion, creative skills development, and inclusive cultural participation.

Exclusions include work outside Herefordshire and Worcestershire communities, emergency relief, and standard unrestricted core funding, especially for larger entities. Distinctives feature deep regional historical ties, independence from statutory influences, initiation of schemes like small grants and biennial conferences, flexible responsive support for individuals and organizations, and emphasis on rural communities, emerging artists, and projects blending artistic excellence with community empowerment, prioritizing proven innovation, engagement, and legacy over generic cultural efforts.