About the Found
About the Found
The Henrik Lyding Memorial Foundation supports innovative Danish theatre and dance productions and helps create financial stability for new artistic visions. In addition, the fund awards and provides support to performing artists who actively contribute to Danish performing arts in the spirit of Henrik Lyding.
FOUNDATION'S MISSION
The Foundation's mission is to carry on Henrik Lyding's professional and artistic legacy. The aim is to strengthen Danish performing arts and at the same time contribute to the lasting development of the cultural heritage of Henrik Lyding.
The fund supports both individual artists and innovative theatre and dance productions. Through awards and production grants, it enables artistic immersion, development, and the realization of new works with the potential to advance Danish performing arts.
The Foundation's ambition is to help the type of performing arts that combine artistic courage with strong craftsmanship, which can contribute significantly to Danish performing arts.
The purpose of the fund is
Honouring Henrik Lyding’s legacy
To carry forward Henrik Lyding's artistic and professional values by recognising individuals and institutions that work with the same high level of integrity, quality and commitment to the performing arts.
Encouraging artistic development
To provide performing artists with the opportunity for immersion, career development, and artistic growth through targeted support.
Supporting production and innovation
To strengthen bold, ambitious, and innovative artistic voices through production support for works of clear quality.
Strengthening Danish performing arts
To invest in Danish performing arts by supporting both artists and productions that contribute to its continued development.
A BURNING COMMITMENT
Henrik Lyding’s legacy is defined by a deep artistic understanding, boundless curiosity, and a sustained commitment to the performing arts. Regardless of genre — whether theatre, classical ballet, revue, or experimental productions — he championed the idea that every work should be approached with the same level of professional rigour.
By setting this standard, he helped advance the discourse around performing arts in Denmark, challenge prevailing norms, and elevate the professional level of the field.
Henrik’s legacy lives on”
The Henrik Lyding Memorial Fund was established to carry forward Henrik Lyding’s spirit within the performing arts. Its purpose is to support diverse, innovative, and independent performing arts productions, which often operate under limited financial resources.
From 2025 and for the following ten years, the grants will be awarded annually on Henrik Lyding’s birthday, the 7th of May, recognising both emerging and established artists for their contributions. In addition, production grants will be awarded on an ongoing basis to support stage works of artistic depth, integrity, and ambition.
The board
The board determines the fund’s strategic direction and activities and annually selects the recipients of the Production Grant.
Michael Vinther
Anette Abildgaard
Philip Maury
Marius Rønnov
Fund Grants and Awards
Henrik Lydings Memorial Fund provides financial support to performing artists and scenic productions with artistic ambition, uncompromising integrity and professional weight. The foundation supports both emerging talents and established artists, as well as productions that contribute significantly to the development of Danish performing arts.
Commitment and Sustainability
Henrik Lydings Memorial Fund is funded by Greywell Ventures Family Fund, which is based on the vision of a long-term grounding in the Danish performing arts.
The fund is thus established with a sustainable financial foundation that ensures continuity, stability and responsible distribution of awards and Production Grants over the next decade.
The ambition is not only to support individual projects, but to contribute sustainably to quality and development in Danish performing arts in honour of critic Henrik Lyding.
The Foundation's work is also supported by Per Lundsgaard, Ballet Master at Svendborg Ballet Theatre, who acts as a special consultant.