The Emile Norman Arts Foundation honors the cultural spirit of Big Sur through the life and work of Emile Norman. We host programs and residencies at his handcrafted home, inviting creatives to connect with the landscape—breathing, creating, and expressing—much like the pipe organ at the home's center, drawing inspiration from the elements and place.
The Emile Norman Arts Foundation honors Big Sur’s artistic legacy through the life, work, and philosophy of American artist Emile Norman. From his handcrafted mid-century home—perched on a ridge in Big Sur—we carry forward a creative vision grounded in place, experimentation, and authentic expression.
Our Big Idea advances three pillars:
1) Hosting exhibitions and public events that connect people to art, ideas, and nature;
2) Preserving and sharing Emile’s life, archives, and home;
3) Supporting transformative residencies where artists create through deep connection with the landscape and its spirit.
In a time of accelerating change, we believe Big Sur’s creative heritage has the power to inspire imagination, resilience, and meaningful connection. Your support through Monterey County Gives! helps keep this living legacy vibrant, accessible, and impactful—for our community today and for future generations of artists and visionaries.
The Emile Norman Arts Foundation preserves a vital part of Monterey County’s cultural heritage by stewarding Emile Norman’s iconic Big Sur home and artistic legacy. While physically rooted in Big Sur, our impact extends across the county. We host public exhibitions, concerts, tours, and artist residencies that bring visitors from throughout the region to experience the creative spirit of this unique place.
Our community projects, discussion salons, and collaborative events—such as those with the Carmel Bach Festival and other arts nonprofits—foster connection and creativity across Monterey County’s diverse communities. Artists-in-residence often share their work through public programming in Carmel, Salinas, and beyond. We also offer educational opportunities through archival access, tours, and storytelling.
By connecting people to art, place, and one another, we offer Monterey County a deeper sense of cultural identity, inspiration, and belonging—today and for generations to come.
As a Carmel native and artist who built a career in the arts, design, and architecture, I cannot overstate the influence that regional artists like Emile Norman had on my life. His work—and the artistic legacy of this spectacular coastal region—shaped my worldview, education, and creative path. Emile’s influence was profound during his lifetime and continues to resonate today. The Emile Norman Arts Foundation (ENAF) is preserving and extending his vision, ensuring future generations can engage with his unique artistic, cultural, and environmental legacy. His home and archive have already become a vital hub for artistic, musical, and intellectual exploration, welcoming creatives of all backgrounds. The openness with which the site is shared echoes Emile’s spirit and offers inspiration and opportunity to others—just as it once did for me. I wholeheartedly support ENAF’s mission and champion their continued efforts to secure and share this remarkable legacy.
- Debra Nichols, Carmel By The Sea
