What Berridge Programs does

Berridge Programs is a privately held experiential education company operating creative gap year and summer arts programs for young people ages 14–22, based primarily at Château le Mont Epinguet, an 18th-century property on the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy, France. Founded by Andrea Mardon in 2008 (originally as "Acting Abroad," renamed in 2011 to honor the Berridge family who own the château), the company serves two core programs: the Creative Semester (a fall or spring semester gap year program at €15,800 for ages 17–22 in Film, Photography, Acting, Studio Art including Ceramics, and Writing) and Cooking and Culture (a three-week summer culinary program at €5,200 for ages 14–19). Optional add-ons include a College Credit pathway through the Gap Year Association and the University of Montana ($1,900 for up to 6 transferable credits) and Financial Need Scholarships offering 20–50% tuition reduction. Berridge is the only GYA-accredited gap year provider in France and one of just two in all of Europe, a credential that unlocks 529 College Savings Plan eligibility and federal financial aid access for U.S. students.

The business runs a direct-to-consumer sales motion: families and students enter through the website or social channels, schedule a Zoom interview with the Program Director, complete a JotForm application, and pay a €1,500–€2,500 deposit. Cohort sizes are deliberately small (12–22 students), enabling personalized mentorship from working professional artists recruited from the U.S., U.K., Ireland and beyond. Underlying technology is limited to standard SaaS tools (JotForm, Calendly, Google Analytics, Wix) — there is no proprietary platform. Revenue mechanics are entirely tuition-based with rolling admissions until programs fill; deposits are due on acceptance and final payment 90 days before program start.

Since January 2025 the company operates the château year-round rather than seasonally, a transition that signals capacity for additional cohorts and continuous programming. Faculty has been expanded in recent years with the promotion of alumnus Cage Pierre to Director of Programs, the hiring of Co-Directors Amber Montgomery and Chris Gaggia, and the conversion of Adam du Preez to a full-time Studio Art Teaching Artist. The business is founder-owned and -operated, with no disclosed venture or institutional funding, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. Risk management is supported by a partnership with Cornerstone Safety Group providing year-round safety, medical, and mental-health advisory services.

Name

Berridge Programs

Legal name

Berridge Programs

Website

https://berridgeprograms.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Berridge Programs operates GYA-accredited gap year and summer creative arts programs for students ages 14–22 at an 18th-century château in Normandy, France, offering Film, Acting, Studio Art, Writing, Photography, and Culinary tracks. It is the only accredited gap year provider in France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Experiential Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Title I & Compensatory Education Programs (EDAJAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pre-College Summer/Winter Academic Programs (High School Students) (EDAIAIAD), Personal Enrichment & Creative Arts Programs (EDAAAEAG)

Keywords

• Gap year programs
• Arts education
• Summer immersion programs
• Experiential education
• Study abroad France

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Creative Semester Tuition: Main revenue stream from semester-long gap year arts programs. Students pay tuition for a semester program that includes accommodation, excursions, instruction, meals, and cultural activities in Normandy, France. Fall 2026/Spring 2027 programs cost €15,800.
2. Cooking and Culture Summer Program: Revenue from summer culinary programs for students ages 14-19. Session-based programs in Summer 2026 cost €5,200 EUROS, including accommodation, excursions, instruction, and most meals.
3. College Credit Fees: Additional tuition fee of $1,900-$1,950 paid to the Gap Year Association/University of Montana for college credit earned during gap year programs. This flat rate covers up to 6 college credits through two courses (COLS 191 and CTE 191). Only available for gap year programs, not summer programs.
4. Financial Need Scholarships: Need-based scholarships ranging from 20-50% of program tuition for qualifying students. These represent a reduction in revenue rather than a separate stream, awarded based on demonstrated financial need, academic record, and leadership experience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Berridge Programs runs community-centered gap year and summer arts programs for teens and young adults at Château le Mont Epinguet in Normandy, France. The Creative Semester (€15,800) is a semester-long gap year program for ages 17-22 covering Film, Photography, Acting, Studio Art, and Writing. Cooking and Culture (€5,200) is a summer culinary and cultural immersion program for ages 14-19. An optional College Credit pathway allows students to earn up to 6 credits through the Gap Year Association and University of Montana.

Product overview

Berridge Programs is an educational organization offering gap year and summer arts programs for young people in Normandy, France. The portfolio consists of two primary programs: the Creative Semester (a semester-long gap year program for ages 17-22 focused on Film, Acting, Photography, Studio Art, Ceramics, and Writing at €15,800) and the Cooking and Culture summer program (a culinary course for ages 14-19 at €5,200). Optional add-on modules include a College Credit pathway through the Gap Year Association and University of Montana (earning up to 6 credits for an additional $1,900 fee) and Financial Need Scholarships (20–50% tuition reduction). All programs are based at Château le Mont Epinguet on the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy, France.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Creative Semester: A community-centered gap year program for students ages 17-22 pursuing artistic pathways in Film, Photography, Acting, Studio Art (Painting, Drawing, Ceramics) or Writing, set in Normandy, France.
• Cooking and Culture

Products and services

• Creative Semester A community-centered semester-long gap year program for students ages 17-22 held at Château le Mont Epinguet in Normandy, France. Students pursue an artistic pathway in Film, Photography, Acting, Studio Art (Painting, Drawing, Ceramics), or Writing while living in a close-knit artistic community. The program includes daily workshops, studio time, excursions, and a Final Showcase. Optional college credit is available through the Gap Year Association and University of Montana. Cost is €15,800 per semester.
• Cooking and Culture A summer culinary and cultural immersion program for students ages 14-19 held at the chateau in Normandy, France. Participants develop culinary skills through hands-on cooking classes, food adventures, and cultural excursions including visits to markets, artisanal food shops, local producers, and a Michelin-starred restaurant. Students prepare and share three-course French meals each evening and complete a curated Food Anthology combining photography, writing, and art. Two sessions are offered in Summer 2026 (June 24-July 11 and July 26-August 12). Cost is €5,200. No prior experience or French language required.
• College Credit Option

Quantifiable outcome

• Students can earn up to 6 college credits through University of Montana
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Gap Year Association (GYA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGYA provides accreditation for Berridge Programs, the only accredited gap year provider in France and one of only two in all of Europe. GYA holds official Standards Development Organization title recognized by U.S. Department of Justice and FTC. Through GYA, students can earn college credit via University of Montana and access funding options including 529 College Savings Plans and Federal Financial Aid.
• University of MontanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool of record for college credit offered through Berridge Programs. Students can earn up to 6 college credits (COLS 191: Self & Culture in Experiential Cohorts and CTE 191: Introduction to Leadership Development) transferable to their home institutions. University of Montana charges 8.75% processing fee for 529 funds when paid through them.
• Cornerstone Safety GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRisk management, medical, and mental health experts with decades of experience in overseas travel. Dave Dennis and team provide year-round advice and support with policies and procedures, as well as on-call services in medical and mental health emergencies during programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rustic Pathways: Operates gap year, summer, and service-learning programs for high school and college-aged students globally. Comparable in targeting teens/young adults seeking transformative experiences, though more focused on service learning than creative arts.
• Where There Be Dragons: Offers gap year and summer programs for teens and young adults emphasizing cultural immersion in places like Bhutan, Morocco, and Latin America. Comparable in age range, immersive residential model, and experiential curriculum with creative components.
• Thinking Beyond Borders: Operates gap year and summer programs for high school students focusing on global citizenship and personal development. Comparable in target age group, residential model, and transformational positioning, though different geographic focus.
• Oxbridge Academic Programs: Where Berridge's founder Andrea Mardon previously served as Executive Director, Oxbridge runs study abroad programs for teens at Oxford, Cambridge, and other European locations. Highly comparable in audience (U.S. teens/young adults), delivery model (in-person residential), and academic-creative mix.
• Global Citizen Year: Runs a fellowship-style gap year program targeting high school graduates. Similar in audience (ages 17–22), residential European/location model, and experiential learning focus, though more leadership/community-development oriented than creative arts.

Emerging players

• Outward Bound: Experiential education provider with gap year and summer programs emphasizing outdoor and adventure-based learning. Comparable in audience and residential experiential format but with an outdoor leadership rather than creative arts focus.

Broad incumbents

• Atelier des Chefs: Major French cooking class provider for both amateur and professional cooks. Overlaps on the culinary teaching component in Normandy/Paris, though its audience is adults seeking short cooking classes rather than teen residential summer programs.
• Le Cordon Bleu: World-renowned culinary school with programs in Paris and globally. Overlaps on the cooking and culture component for teenage students, though focused on professional culinary credentials rather than immersive summer experiences.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): Large, established provider of study abroad and gap programs for high school and college students globally. Overlaps on international education, audience, and accreditation relationships, but operates at much larger scale and broader scope than Berridge's boutique creative arts focus.
• National Geographic Student Expeditions: Runs summer programs for high school students combining travel, photography, and cultural exploration. Comparable in age range, photography/film components, and travel-to-Europe format, though broader in geography and brand scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-bDDFGo7gmZc8zI093VDXQ?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/BerridgePrograms
• Instagraminstagram.com/berridgeprograms
• Xx.com/berridgeprogram
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berridge-programs

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Berridge Programs