The Hugo Burge Foundation Events at Marchmont Estate

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2. The Hugo Burge Foundation Events

In memory of philanthropist Hugo Burge, the newly established Hugo Burge Foundation is dedicated to inspiring creativity.  Their exciting events programme launching this summer will make use of Marchmont Estate’s permanent studio spaces, the beautiful walled garden and the restored glasshouse. The Scottish Borders community will be able to enjoy drawing classes, film premieres, garden tours, song writing adventures and flower arranging workshops throughout the summer.  Endeavouring to continue the incredible work Hugo Burge started in the Scottish Borders, the Foundation will act as an arts hub, uniting communities and celebrating the power of the arts to stimulate.

On 16th May Picture book maker and illustrator Sara Rhys will help you get creative with Sketchbook Social – this low-pressure and fun afternoon is all about giving yourself some time to be creative with simple materials in a beautiful setting, regardless of skill-level or experience.

1st and 2nd June offers a whole weekend of art, creativity and fun at the Open Studios!  The Makers Market will have a range of visiting artists and amazing creatives with products including fabulous handcrafted hats, natural skincare products, handmade baskets and stunning ceramics.  There will also be plants and honey from the Hugo Burge Foundation gardens and ethically made HBF tote bags.  The doors will be thrown open to the permanent workspaces where you can visit studios of artists including sculptor Richard Goldsworthy, stone carvers Josephine Crossland and Michelle de Bruin and the Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop.   Plus explore the blossoming walled gardens and beautiful restored glasshouses.  Head Gardener Toby Loveday will be leading groups on mini-tours around these spaces to give a bit of insight into the vision and work behind them.  And, there’s food and drink, printmaking sessions, live music, space to picnic and much more fun besides.

Morning drawing sessions in the Greenhouse on 12th and 26th June will be led by visual and textile artist, designer and quiltmaker Pauline Burbidge.  With only space for five participants, these exclusive workshops offer a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the art of drawing amidst the beautiful surroundings.

19th June will see a Summer Weaving and Cookery Workshop.  Join Katie Warner in a basketweaving workshop while enjoying a delicious lunch prepared by Jess Elliott Dennison, founder of Elliott’s.

artSpace comes to the Glasshouses at the Hugo Burge Foundation Creative Spaces with workshops for S1-S3 students on Friday afternoons with Friday Art Club. Led by artist Claire Beattie, sessions will include drawing, painting and printmaking activities taking inspiration from these unusual and inspiring surroundings.  A mini bus is provided, free of charge, to and from Berwickshire High School car park.

On various dates throughout summer, pre-school children can join Little Wildflowers Music Workshops with Katie Forbes.  This musical wander will go through the wild flowers and vegetable patches of the Walled Garden with singing, hand actions and instrument playing drawing inspiration from the surrounding fauna and flora.

Summer Garden Tours will be led by Head Gardener Toby Loveday.  The tours will guide visitors through the history of the gardens, from its role as a source of employment for the local community in the 20th Century through its period of decline in the 1980s to its glorious restoration in 2017/2018 led by Hugo Burge's vision. Toby will also discuss the garden team's plan for the future.

The gardens will be used throughout summer for Summer Songwriting Workshops led by musician Katie Forbes.  Participants will develop singing skills, work on lyrics and perform their ideas both individually and as a team.  These engaging and friendly workshops will encourage the study of nature

HBF gardener and floral expert Laura Eberst will run Cut Flower Workshops.  These peaceful and informative afternoons will allow visitors to learn about the art of growing and maintaining cut flowers in the Walled Garden.  This will be followed by a hand-tied bouquet workshop using freshly picked blooms from the garden.  At the end of the workshop, you'll leave with your hand-tied bouquet, ready to brighten up your home.

Executive Director of the Hugo Burge Foundation Lucy Brown comments, From singing in the wildflower meadow to shaping clay in the glasshouse, we want these beautiful and unique spaces to inspire our communities to be creative, to play, to learn and to explore ideas.  The Foundation’s ethos is all about bringing people together, supporting communities and using nature and the arts to inspire people – this was what Hugo envisioned and we are working to make his vision a reality.

Hugo Burge (1972-2023) was a British entrepreneur, philanthropist and art lover who spent the last ten years of his life turning his beautiful home in the Scottish Borders into a haven for makers and creators.  Hugo hosted events and concerts, built workshops and studios, established artists' and writers' residencies, supported local community groups, and became an important local patron of the arts.  In just a few short years, Hugo transformed the cultural life of the Scottish Borders.  The Hugo Burge Foundation exists to continue what he started.