Two Temple Place is owned and run by registered charity, the Bulldog Trust. Richard ‘Tigger’ Hoare, who died in 2020, founded the charity in 1983 as a “charity to support charities”, giving millions to small organisations with big hearts. His philanthropic spirit was never more in evidence than in his purchase of Two Temple Place, which he fell in love with in 1999 and gave to the Bulldog Trust so that its stunning interiors could be enjoyed by the public.
The Bulldog Trust’s Purpose
We believe that the UK is full of overlooked potential and underutilised talent. The Bulldog Trust’s Purpose is the creation of opportunities for those who lack them. We do this by working with groups already engaged in similar efforts where we can enhance their impact. The Bulldog Trust helps to provide both first and second chances.
Our independence allows us to develop networks and partnerships freely, and to take risks. We seek out partner community, activist and cultural groups and educational institutions which we can work with in a complementary way towards mutually agreed aims, providing our financial and physical resources and creative expertise. We believe that creativity and culture can be powerful forces for making both stronger communities and positive social change and that Two Temple Place is a powerful tool to those ends.
Our impact can be opportunities for those needing to find a way out of social isolation and into wellbeing (as programme participant or volunteer), or looking for a chance at rehabilitation, or seeking a platform for creative expression. We also want to provide confidence and positive cultural experiences to those still in education to ensure that they grasp their future opportunities.
The Trust makes these things possible with our partners by hosting, connecting, educating, advocating and exhibiting. We make the most of Two Temple Place and its capacity as a venue to make events feel special. Our cultural activity is part of our wider opportunity and education agenda and always has a clear connection to our goals. We continue, uniquely, to offer a showcase for the UK’s regional collections and archives. The creation of opportunities for artists, curators, volunteers, participants, those on work placements, visitors and partner institutions is a vital part of our wider programme of unlocking potential.