Fund Launch
At Lisa Ullmann's funeral many people expressed a wish that an event should be organised to commemorate her life and work. Ellinor Hinks and Athalie Knowles took the initiative of inviting a group to gather to discuss the form that this might take. Marion North, Valerie Preston-Dunlop, Geraldine Stephenson and Sam and Susie Thornton met Ellinor and Athalie at Ellinor's flat. The consensus of opinion was that there should be a celebration in dance and music interspersed with tributes presented by people who had worked with Lisa in varying capacities over the years. Ellinor, Athalie and Geraldine had discussed an idea for a more permanent "living memorial". They were inspired by the fact that, no matter how far she had to travel, Lisa always responded to requests for her to lead courses and classes, both in this country and abroad. They proposed that a Lisa Ullmann Travelling Scholarship Fund should be set up. The group accepted the proposal and agreed that Ellinor and Athalie should make arrangements for a commemoration day at which the Fund would be launched.
There was an excellent response to the commemoration day. Approximately £3000 was raised. The first formal meeting was held in March 1986 and it was agreed that no scholarships would be given until 1987 to enable the organisation to become fully constituted and for money to be raised.
The original aim of the Fund was to help dancers, movement specialists, and movement therapists who had already trained to enlarge their knowledge and experience by attending a course or conference in the UK or abroad. The money awarded was to offset the expenses involved in traveling to the place of study.