International Women’s Day at The Sherborne: Philanthropy, Leadership, and the Future of Culture
International Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate achievements — but also to notice the quieter, sustained work that builds culture over time: the learning, the leadership, the generosity, and the care that makes a place truly welcoming.
At The Sherborne, that story lives in the building itself.
(And yes — our featured photo captures a very ‘The Sherborne’ moment: CEO Liz Gilmore receiving our Loo of the Year award on the staircase beneath Sir James Thornhill’s mural. Heritage overhead, future-facing leadership in the frame.)
Then: a schoolmistress at Sherborne House
In the early 1800s, Sherborne House was home to Miss Grace Armitage, a schoolmistress who ran a Ladies Boarding Establishment here. It’s a small detail in the record — but a powerful one. This house has long been a place where women’s work, learning and influence shaped daily life.
Education is cultural infrastructure. It’s how curiosity is nurtured — and how futures open.
Now: philanthropy and stewardship that made The Sherborne possible
The Sherborne exists because of vision — and because that vision was backed with meaningful generosity.
We want to recognise Sally Cannon’s philanthropy, and her continued support of the legacy she and the late Michael Cannon established. Their belief in Sherborne — and in what culture can do for a community — is not only part of our history. It continues to shape how this place feels: open, thoughtful, and made for everyone.
Next: future-facing leadership and cultural momentum
Today, The Sherborne is home to the arts in the South West, sharing inspiring creative (and culinary) experiences for everyone to enjoy, with a clear aim: to inspire curiosity.
Looking forward, Liz Gilmore is helping lead The Sherborne into its next chapter — future-facing, culturally ambitious, and rooted in community. That means building momentum: bringing people through the doors, broadening the programme, deepening partnerships, and ensuring the house continues to be a living, evolving cultural space.
The women who keep the place alive
Culture is never created by one person alone. It’s built by teams — the people welcoming visitors, supporting exhibitions, running events, answering questions, solving the day’s problems, and making sure a brilliant idea becomes a real experience.
Often, that labour is invisible. Often, it’s done by women. And it deserves to be celebrated.
A place for looking closely — and moving forward
The Sherborne is open, authentic and collaborative — a space where heritage and contemporary culture sit side by side, full of enjoyment and a little spark of the unexpected.
This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating women who build culture:
through education and mentorship
through philanthropy and stewardship
through future-facing leadership
through the daily work of making a place welcoming and alive
