Making heritage and culture count

Local re/insurance companies have long supported the arts and heritage around the Island, recognising that both enrich society and build an appreciation for Bermuda’s unique history and traditions. 

Many of the charitable donations made by Bermuda’s re/insurance industry naturally go to meet the basic needs of the community—including ensuring people have enough to eat and that their health and social needs are met. 

But another measure of the health of a society is whether its culture is vibrant and healthy, and whether it cares for its past. 

Bermuda’s heritage and culture segment is vital for the wellbeing of the community and it plays an important role in the tourism industry as well. It is important as a global re/insurance hub that Bermuda, while it may not match the cultural richness of great metropolises such as New York or London, offers more than sun, sea and sand. 

Re/insurance companies recognise all of this and have long been dedicated supporters of the Island’s cultural heritage. 

Three cultural initiatives are described below.  

Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art 

Founded by Tom Butterfield in the 1980s with the goal of repatriating Bermuda works of art to the Island, Masterworks is now one of two major galleries on Bermuda, the other being the Bermuda National Gallery. 

Masterworks now has its own gallery in the Botanical Gardens in Paget and stages exhibitions by local and overseas artists throughout the year while also displaying its permanent collection which includes works by Winslow Homer, Georgia O’Keeffe, Marsden Hartley, Charles Demuth and Henry Moore. 

Another highlight of the gallery is the Charman Prize, named for Sompo International chairman John Charman. This biennial exhibition is a unique showcase competition for art inspired by Bermuda. Artworks are judged by a panel of international judges, with prizes awarded for artistic excellence. 

Among the insurers and service companies backing Masterworks are Everen, Mutual Insurance, CG Insurance and KPMG. 

To find out more visit masterworksbermuda.org

“Over nearly 50 years, once derelict ramparts, bastions, and historic buildings have been transformed into a first-class museum.” National Museum of Bermuda

National Museum of Bermuda 

The National Museum of Bermuda (NMB) was created in 1974 as the Bermuda Maritime Museum. The museum has since expanded beyond its original mandate, which focused on maritime history and the restoration of Bermuda’s largest fort, The Keep.

Over nearly 50 years, once derelict ramparts, bastions, and historic buildings have been transformed into a first-class museum. The NMB has Bermuda’s largest collection of historic objects, had partnered with overseas institutions to carry out archaeological and historical research, and has re-imagined historic military buildings as exhibition and education spaces, research labs, and event venues.

With the support of the government of Bermuda, the museum acquired the Casemates complex in 2013, officially becoming the NMB—growing from a 10 to a 16-acre property. NMB is now the largest attraction in Dockyard and helps to make this area the most visited historical district in Bermuda.

None of this would have been possible without financial support, with corporate donors being particularly important. 

Corporate partners of the NMB from the re/insurance industry now include Allied Word, Argo, Ascot Bermuda, AXA XL, AXIS Capital, BF&M, Chubb, Fidelis MGU, Guy Carpenter, Hiscox Re & ILS, Markel, RenaissanceRe, Sompo International and Zurich. 

To find out more visit nmb.bm 

Bermuda National Trust 

The Bermuda National Trust (BNT) is the Island’s leading conservation organisation and has been preserving Bermuda’s built and natural heritage and its history and culture for more than 50 years. 

The owner of more than 80 properties and 277 acres of land across Bermuda, it operates three museums and cares for an outstanding collection of antique furniture, artwork and artefacts owned and made by Bermudians. By telling the stories behind its properties and collections, it enables the community to understand their relevance to their current lives and their significance to the future.

Through its education programmes, the BNT celebrates Bermuda’s heritage and seeks to inspire the stewards of the future. Its education programme includes an outstanding series of books on Bermuda’s architectural heritage, with one book for each parish and a separate publication on the City of Hamilton. 

Re/insurance donors to the BNT in 2022 included Aspen Bermuda, Chubb Charitable Foundation, Conduit Foundation and the XL Foundation, all of which gave $20,000 or more; Arch Re, AXIS Capital, Everen Management Services and Sompo International who each gave $10,000 or more; and Atlantic Security, Deloitte, RenaissanceRe and Vantage Risk, each of which gave $5,000 or more. 

In addition, many re/insurance companies carry out community days on National Trust properties, giving time to working on nature reserves and carrying out projects in museums. 

To find out more visit www.bnt.bm