Promoting access, fostering artistic creation, sharing culture, preserving heritage... At Fondation de France, culture ranks as the third-largest cause, with 250 donor-advised funds dedicated to this sector. In 2024 alone, contributions of €25 million supported over 1,300 artists and projects.
Nurturing careers, supporting and promoting artistic excellence
Backing artists’ professional development is essential for their careers to flourish. More than 250 artists receive support each year through grants and prizes awarded by donor-advised funds. Some are dedicated to very specific initiatives, such as Fondation Cécile Pollet Foundation, which supports female singer-songwriters, or Fondation Michel Dard, which helps authors over the age of 40 publish their first novel.
In addition to the grants and prizes awarded to individual artists, more comprehensive support, such as training, residencies, production assistance and networking, is available for emerging artists.
Finally, to promote contemporary artistic production, several donor-advised funds support the creation and distribution of major productions. These include foundations set up by major artistic institutions such as Opéra de Paris , Philharmonie de Paris , and renowned orchestras, including Orchestre de Paris, Concert d'Astrée and Cercle de l'Harmonie.
Lisa Chaïb-Auriol, soprano, winner of the 2020 Prix Marie Dauphin de Verna.
Cultivating and promoting our artistic heritage
Preserving artistic heritage is crucial for safeguarding cultural identity, fostering creativity, and connecting present and future generations to their shared history. This is why 40% of Fondation de France's culture-focused donor-advised funds support heritage projects. Fondation Riom Terre d'Auvergne, for example, identifies and promotes the town's artistic and historical heritage, while stimulating the cultural life of its urban community.
Preserving an artist's legacy and promoting their work is also a priority for many family foundations which want to share their admiration for creative talent. This is particularly true of Fondation Olivier Messiaen, which plays a decisive role in promoting the composer's work by protecting archives, producing concerts, and helping young artists who devote themselves to Messiaen’s work.
The Olivier Messiaen Festival in the Meije region.
Leveraging art and culture to benefit a range of causes
In addition to supporting art, creativity, and all those who sustain it, Fondation de France seeks to make culture a vehicle for forging social connection. As such, it encourages initiatives where culture and art are tools for social transformation and empowerment to change the way we all look at the world. As part of its "Art as Experience" program, Fondation de France supports collaborative creative projects that bring together artists, disadvantaged individuals, civil society, and cultural institutions with educational, health, and social structures. The aim is to make artistic practice a meaningful experience that strengthens inclusion and empowers everyone. One such project supported in 2023 is Péplum médiéval, a theatrical performance featuring seven professional actors with disabilities. This inclusive project is collaboratively produced by a team of artists, technicians, production and administrative staff, researchers, and specialised educators.
Performance of Péplum médiéval, directed by Olivier Martin-Salvan. © Martin Argyroglo
Young people are also central to our initiatives: Fondation de France's "Grandir en cultures" program, for example, supports artistic projects aimed at young people between the ages of 2 and 18. The program’s goal is to develop their imagination and creativity; teach them skills, techniques, and methods for working together as a group; and empower them. As for donor-advised funds, Fondation La Source Garouste also shares the belief that artistic creation is a driver of social and educational improvement. It has established multiple artistic creation centres in 10 regions, mainly for young people aged 6 to 18 facing social and educational challenges, to help them achieve their full potential and connect with their community.
Knowing that art helps us to better understand the world around us connect with others, Fondation Daniel and Nina Carasso, as part of its "Art citoyen" program, backs initiatives that promote art as a way to forge a sense of citizenship and meet the challenges of today's world. Each year, it supports around 100 projects, ranging from lifelong artistic education to cross-disciplinary research, bringing together artists and scientists to address societal issues. It also highlights the role of artists as agents of change through its "Artiste Citoyen Engagé" prize.
TO FIND OUT MORE
→ Culture and Creativity
→ Gautier Capuçon : "Music is sharing"
→ Dance, music, art – Initiatives that support emerging young talent
