The Hope Foundry Project: raising money for a bold new vision in aid of community arts & education

  • Rhys Ellis
  • Raf Bogan
  • Tom Smith

Hope Foundry is MAP Charity’s current home of ten years, under which we have developed a bold new vision. We plan to see this stunning building further evolve as a vital creative hub for Leeds, opening its doors to new facilities and spaces in 2020 to benefit the whole community. This will allow for our impact to be amplified, reaching new and wider audiences while positively contributing to the local economy.

Built in 1831, Hope Foundry is a stunning Grade II Listed building with a long standing history of making, creating and inventing as part of Leeds’ proud industrial heritage. With the site under threat of redevelopment into luxury flats, we are working alongside the community, the council, investors and the owners of Hope Foundry to enact an alternative vision for the site. This will ensure that MAP Charity’s pioneering work with young people continues to develop and inspire, delivering a sustainable legacy for Leeds.


Purchasing Hope Foundry will enable MAP Charity to create a kitchen, café, roof-garden, studios, co-working, event, gallery and retail spaces whilst safeguarding the charity’s central provision for young people. The plan is to create a single site with multiple uses, that directly feeds back into the common goal of advancement of future generations, particularly for those with less opportunities to pursue creative paths.
Read more about our exciting vision here: mapcharity.org/our-vision/

Now, we need your help!

The battle to secure Hope Foundry is bigger than just one building, and will take a groundswell of like-minded people to make it happen. This is about the kind of city we all want to live in. MAP Charity has an exciting and achievable proposal to expand its activities across the whole building and create a replicable model for other arts and education providers worldwide.
By collectively working together to achieve MAP Charity’s vision for the Hope Foundry project, your contribution will help transform the lives of young people in Leeds and create a new hub for the community.
Make a donation to MAP Charity: mapcharity.org/donate/