Henry Moore Foundation facts for kids
The Henry Moore Foundation is a special group in England. It helps people learn about and enjoy fine arts, especially the amazing sculptures made by Henry Moore. It also makes sure that Moore's artworks are looked after, shown, and sold properly forever.
Henry Moore and his family started this group in 1977. The Foundation helps many art projects. This includes giving money to artists and art experts, and supporting different art places. The Foundation works from two main spots in the UK: Henry Moore Studios & Gardens in Perry Green, and the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds.
The person in charge of the Henry Moore Foundation right now is Godfrey Worsdale.
Contents
Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, Perry Green
This is where Henry Moore used to live and work in Perry Green, Hertfordshire. It is the main office for the Henry Moore Foundation. You can visit the Studios & Gardens during certain times of the year, but there is a ticket fee.
Why Henry Moore Lived Here
Henry and Irena Moore moved to Perry Green during World War II. Their home in London was bombed, so they rented a part of a farmhouse called 'Hoglands'. They planned to go back to London after the war. However, they ended up staying in Perry Green for the rest of their lives.
As Henry Moore became more famous, he bought Hoglands. He then slowly bought more land and buildings nearby. He turned these into different studios for making his art.
What You Can See and Do Here
About twenty of Henry Moore's large sculptures are on display at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens. These sculptures sometimes change if they are loaned out for other exhibitions. The gardens cover more than 70 acres. They include Irena Moore's flower gardens, fruit trees, and open fields where local sheep graze.
There is a big, modern visitor center. It has a cafe and a room where you can learn more about the art.
Visitors can also explore Moore's old studios. They have been kept just as he used them when he was alive. The studios include:
- Top Studio – This was Moore's main workspace after he moved to Perry Green. It is now kept as a place for carving sculptures.
- Etching Studio – This used to be the old village shop. Moore used it to try out printmaking.
- Yellow Brick Studio – This was a flexible space. It was used to store sculptures, for photography, and to show work to clients. It was mostly used for carving.
- Plastic Studio – Moore often used temporary plastic structures for working on big sculptures outside. One of these is still there. You can see examples of his artworks and tools inside.
- Bourne Maquette Studio – Moore filled the walls of this studio with hundreds of smaller models. He also kept his 'library of natural forms' here. This was a collection of bones, stones, shells, and driftwood that inspired his work.
- The Summer House – This is a wooden summer house where Moore made drawings. It was originally on a spinning base so Moore could always find the best light.
Besides the studios, the grounds also have:
- Hoglands – This is the artist's restored home.
- The Aisled Barn – This is a barn from the 1500s. It has been changed to show nine large tapestries. These were made by Moore and skilled weavers.
- Sheep Field Barn – This is a gallery space that has different exhibitions. It is currently being updated to add a workshop space for learning.
- The Henry Moore Archive – This is a modern building made to hold over 750,000 items. These are all documents and objects related to Moore, dating back to 1914.
Collection of Henry Moore's Art
The Foundation has about 15,000 artworks by Henry Moore at Perry Green. This includes huge sculptures, smaller models (called maquettes), drawings, prints, tapestries, and sketchbooks.
The Henry Moore Archive holds over 750,000 items. These include books, letters, clothing, exhibition posters, photos, films, and recordings. It also has things Moore collected that helped him create his art.
The Foundation often loans out artworks and sends exhibitions to different places around the world.
Henry Moore Institute, Leeds
The Henry Moore Institute is a place in Leeds where people can study sculpture. It is right next to Leeds Art Gallery. The Institute opened on April 22, 1993. It is in a historic building that used to be offices for wool merchants. Admission is free.
How the Institute Started
The Institute grew from an earlier partnership in 1982. The Foundation worked with Leeds Art Gallery to create the Henry Moore Centre for the Study of Sculpture. In 1988, the Foundation set up the Henry Moore Sculpture Trust. This group worked from a basement room in Leeds City Art Gallery. The Trust also opened the Henry Moore Studio in Dean Clough in 1989. This studio gave chances to new artists. The Henry Moore Studio closed in 1999. At that time, the Henry Moore Sculpture Trust and the Henry Moore Foundation joined together under the Foundation’s name.
What You Can Do at the Institute
The Institute has a changing program of sculpture exhibitions. It also has a research library and an archive of papers from sculptors. The staff at the Institute also help manage the sculpture collections at the Leeds Art Gallery next door. The Institute holds events throughout the year. These include talks, workshops, and conferences based on current exhibitions or research.
In 2023, the Institute was updated to create a special space for education. It reopened in the summer of 2024.
Helping Other Art Projects
The Foundation helps sculpture grow and develop. It gives money to museums, galleries, and individual art historians and researchers.
2005 Sculpture Incident
A large bronze sculpture, called Reclining Figure 1969–70, was taken from the Foundation at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens on December 15, 2005. It was a very big sculpture, measuring about 3.6 meters by 2 meters by 2 meters, and weighing 2.1 tonnes.
See also
In Spanish: Fundación Henry Moore para niños
- List of single-artist museums
