Goodwood House is a country house and estate, covering 4,900 hectares in Westhampnett, Chichester, West Sussex, England and is the seat of the Duke of Richmond.
Launching in May 2025, the not-for-profit Goodwood Art Foundation, located on the estate, will focus Art, Environment and Education, promising inspirational experiences whilst fostering creativity and learning for people of all ages through the engagement with art, education and connection with nature.
Support by the Stephen A. Schwarzman Foundation, an extensive landscape development has been planned for the new grounds of the foundation by landscape architect, Dan Pearson. Located within the Schwarzman Gardens, the Western Amphitheatre will provide a multi-use space for schools and education groups to come together and share their experiences of the Foundation’s art and environment, as well as a stage for public-facing open-air performances during the summer programme.
Dan Pearson’s naturalistic approach to landscape design, will invigorate the wild aesthetic of the Foundation’s landscape, creating a rich, biodiverse place of reflection and escape. Twenty-four distinct seasonal moments have been designed to enliven the site and draw visitors to defined destinations, ranging from areas of intense spring colour to subtle autumn moments. The visitor experience is at the heart of the landscape vision, connecting the art installations within the setting, offering designated paths and routes, as well as opportunities for rest and contemplation.
Dan Pearson OBE, Landscape Architect, said: “We are delighted to be collaborating on a project that balances contemporary landscape design, increased biodiversity and exceptional contemporary art. The rich history of the Goodwood Estate and its relationship to the distinct landscape character of the South Downs National Park are the starting point for a reimagined experience of art at the Goodwood Art Foundation. Our masterplan creates a landscape setting in which a selection of carefully curated international artworks will feature, ensuring that that the resonance between art and landscape is at the core of this new project. The dual experience of encountering works of art and discovering a beautiful, contemporary landscape offers visitors the chance for escape, delight, reflection, and illumination.”
The Duke of Richmond and Gordon, CBE, DL, said: “We are taking our commitment to the visual arts to a new level. A forward-thinking scheme, the Goodwood Art Foundation will present the very best of international art in an innovative and engaging way. It will place important works of contemporary art in a beautiful, ever-changing natural environment, while also delivering a powerful education programme to inspire all our visitors. I am thrilled to be launching this great new venture, which will form a vital part of Goodwood’s 21st century legacy. Over the last three hundred years, the Dukes of Richmond at Goodwood have collected masterpieces by Canaletto, Reynolds, Romney, Stubbs and Van Dyck. The creation of the Goodwood Art Foundation signals the next chapter in this long and pioneering history of engagement with art.”