Henry Moore Foundation.

Moore is best known for his abstract monumental bronzes which can be seen in many places around the world as public works of art. The subjects are usually abstractions of the human figure, typically mother-and-child or reclining figures. Interestingly, apart from a flirtation with family groups in the 1950s, the subject is nearly always a female figure. Characteristically, Moore's figures are pierced, or contain hollow voids. Many interpret the undulating form of his reclining figures as references to the landscape and hills of Yorkshire where Moore was born.

The Henry Moore Foundation is a registered charity, set-up and generously endowed by Mr Moore in 1977 'to advance the education of the public by the promotion of their appreciation of the fine arts and in particular the works of Henry Moore'. It operates from Perry Green, Hertfordshire and at the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds.

The Foundation also supports a wide range of projects and activities in the visual arts through its donations programme. Among areas covered are student bursaries, fellowships for artists and grants to art institutions, galleries and museums.

The Foundation's grant programme is focussed on specific objectives. It is the trustees' policy to support all aspects of the arts in which Henry Moore himself was engaged: sculpture, drawing and print-making (all freely interpreted in the case of contemporary work). The key criterion is artistic quality; practical viability is also important. Special consideration will be given to projects outside London and to venues with limited funding.

We have recently entered into an agreement with the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation to extend its support for contemporary visual arts through the grants programme. The Trustees of the EFF, recognising our expertise in this field, have proposed a measure of collaboration between our two bodies to extend the provision of grants in support of the work of living artists in the exhibitions challenge funds and publication catagories. For further information about grants, exhibitions and the work of the Henry Moore Foundation, please visit our website.