The Fondation de France has been breaking new ground questioning the cultural need of the European citizens. Since 1969 the Foundation has been encouraging innovative actions, among others in the cultural field. Its programme “Nouveaux commanditaires – new patrons” provides citizens the opportunity to commission an artistic work or project in order to draw attention to a certain social or cultural situation and to take responsibility.

 

With the help of a mediator the citizens formulate their expectations and consign an artist with the project. Different public and private partners are associated to ensure the financing part. In France more than 175 artistic works and projects have emerged from this interaction since 1994, especially in the architecture, photography, video, painting and music domain. Among the commissioned artists you find famous names like Daniel Buren, Christian Boltanski and Andrea Blum.

 

By now the initiative has had success in Italy, Belgium and Spain. Since 2006 the Foundation has also been meeting several private and public actors and institutions in Germany. The project will first be launched in five German Lander: Brandenburg, Hessen, Hamburg, Saxony and Thuringia. The mediators have already been found. In the beginning of next year a first exchange between French, Italian, Belgian and German mediators will take place in Leipzig.

 

For more information on the projects please visit the new patron’s website (in English too)

Contact : Sigrid Pawelke (spawelke@alicemail.fr)