About Berridge
Discover the principles, ethos and values that shape our programs
The Berridge Story
Berridge Programs began in 2008 at Chateau le Mont Epinguet, an 18th-century château in Normandy lovingly restored by the Berridge family. Drawn to the wild beauty and sense of possibility of the Cotentin Peninsula, founder Andrea Mardon envisioned a place where young people could step away from everyday pressures and immerse themselves in creativity, culture, and meaningful connection. That summer, the first group of students and staff arrived at the château and Berridge Programs was born.
In 2026, Berridge entered an exciting new chapter with the transition of creative and operational leadership to longtime collaborators Cage Sebastian Pierre and Amber Montgomery. Cage, a Berridge alumnus and longtime faculty member, brings a background in acting, design for social impact, and experiential arts education, along with a deep commitment to creativity, mentorship, and community-centered learning. Together, Cage and Amber are helping guide Berridge into its next generation while continuing to honor the spirit and values that have shaped the organization since its beginnings.
Mission, Vison and Values
Our Mission
At Berridge Programs, our mission is to cultivate connection through creativity. We use creativity as a platform to enrich lives, foster meaningful relationships, and broaden global perspectives. We are committed to empowering individuals to embrace diversity, celebrate global culture, and thrive within a supportive community of fellow creatives.
Our Vision
Our vision is to promote healthy interpersonal relationships and expand awareness of self and others through creative expression and cultural exploration. By empowering young people to connect through the universal language of creativity, we inspire them to create a more compassionate and inclusive world.
Our Values
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We value creativity as a powerful lens for understanding, appreciating, and celebrating diverse cultures.
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We champion the profound capacity of creativity to foster human connections, stimulate meaningful dialogue, and illuminate fresh perspectives.
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We place collaboration at the center of creative practice, crafting work in the spirit of community.
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We build a sustainable lifestyle, striving to minimize our impact on crucial resources such as water, energy, plant, and animal life
Diversity and Inclusion
Berridge Programs values and embraces the diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of our staff, participants and communities in which we live and work. We believe that diversity is not only a source of strength but also a driver of innovation and creativity. By embracing diversity, we better understand and serve the needs of our stakeholders and better create programming that reflects the richness of the world around us.
Equity is a core value, and we are dedicated to creating a fair and inclusive environment where everyone has both the opportunities and the resources needed to thrive and succeed. We are dedicated to a culture of openness, empathy, and collaboration, where everyone feels empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and ideas.
We recognize that achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion requires ongoing effort and commitment from all levels of our organization. We are committed to continuously learning, growing, and evolving. To this end, we have created a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan to outline our goals and commitments to an organizational culture where diversity is celebrated, equity is upheld, and inclusion is the norm.
Read our full DEI plan HERE
Climate Action Plan
Berridge Programs takes pride in providing transformative experiences for young artists but acknowledges this comes at an environmental cost. Recognizing that every human activity impacts our planet, we feel a moral obligation to reduce our carbon footprint where we can and foster climate-conscious thinking among our community.
We understand the urgent need for international education to tackle its greenhouse gas emissions and confront its environmental role in the climate crisis. Yet, our programs offer a distinct chance to cultivate cultural dialogue and understanding regarding climate change. They serve as a platform to educate, inspire, and motivate our communities to embrace thoughtful, sustainable changes in their mindset and lifestyle.
Taking this into account, our Climate Action Plan operates on two fronts: actively reducing our carbon emissions, resource usage, and overall impact, while also educating and empowering the communities we serve to play a role in addressing the climate crisis.
Read our full Climate Action Plan HERE
