Corporate Foundations Emerge as Key Saviors of French Craftsmanship
Since the early 2000s, French artisanal savoir-faire has been significantly supported by corporate foundations. In January 2025, the AXA Fund for Human Progress joined forces with the Manufactures nationales, committing €6 million for the period from 2025 to 2029. The Fondation Bettencourt Schueller contributes more than €3.5 million each year to the Artisans d'avenir network and Laboratoire des pratiques durables, which began in 2024, and has renewed its support for Villa Kujoyama, Villa Albertine, and Villa Medici with €9.5 million over five years. Additionally, the Fondation AG2R La Mondiale backs the Per Durare platform, while the Fondation Rémy Cointreau provides €2.5 million annually to assist 15 laureates. Other initiatives receive backing from the Fondation d'entreprise Hermès and the Michelangelo Foundation's Homo Faber biennial.
Key facts
- AXA Fund for Human Progress pledged €6 million to Manufactures nationales for 2025–2029.
- Fondation Bettencourt Schueller allocates over €3.5 million annually to crafts.
- Fondation Bettencourt Schueller renewed support for Villa Kujoyama, Villa Albertine, Villa Medici with €9.5 million over five years.
- Fondation AG2R La Mondiale supports the Per Durare platform for rare craft knowledge.
- Fondation Rémy Cointreau has a €2.5 million five-year budget for craft transmission.
- Fondation Banque Populaire dedicates €150,000 yearly to artisan laureates.
- Fondation Michèle et Antoine Riboud offers honor loans up to €20,000 for young artisans.
- The Michelangelo Foundation organizes Homo Faber biennial in Venice (September 1–30, 2025).
Entities
Artists
- Maxime Perrolle
- Marta Bakowski
- Fanny Serouart
- Hanako Stubbe
- Élodie Michaud
- Rebecca Fezard
- Hors-Studio
- Silver Sementi
- Philippe Druillet
- Gérard Desquand
- Frédéric Bernardaud
Institutions
- AXA Fund for Human Progress
- Manufactures nationales
- Fondation Bettencourt Schueller
- Institut pour les Savoir-Faire français
- Fondation AG2R La Mondiale pour la vitalité artistique
- Fondation Rémy Cointreau pour la transmission
- Fondation d'entreprise Hermès
- Fondation Banque Populaire
- Fondation Michèle et Antoine Riboud
- Fondation Culture & Diversité
- Fondation d'entreprise Bernardaud
- The Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship
- Fondazione Giorgio Cini
- Cité internationale de la tapisserie d'Aubusson
- Villa Kujoyama
- Villa Albertine
- Villa Medici
- Éducation nationale
- Compagnons du Devoir et du Tour de France
- Bureau du Design, de la Mode et des Métiers d’Art (Ville de Paris)
- Fonds pour les Ateliers de Paris
- Fondation d’entreprise EY
- Université Louis-Lumière de Lyon II
- DGESCO
- Ministère de l'Éducation nationale
- Connaissance des Arts
Locations
- France
- Genève
- Switzerland
- Venice
- Italy
- Limoges
- Kyoto
- Japan
- United States
- Rome
- India
- China
- Argentina
- Senegal
- Paris