Culture
Societe Generale corporate Foundation’s action in Culture is centered around two major domains, classical music (since 1987) and contemporary art (since 1995). It is a dynamic, active and long-term patronage program that is in tune with the society challenges. It is rolled out through a number of partnerships and/or projects, rooted in the regions in France and/or internationally, in line with the Group’s values of excellence, sharing and creativity. The Foundation has particulary supported for over 35 years the field of classical music.
The Foundation wishes to continue and strenghten its supports for the professional integration of young musicians into working life, ensure the disemination of music in its all diversity, and make it accessible to all audiences.
Fields of intervention music and art
In the field of music
The Foundation encourages and promotes excellence in the professional world of classical, instrumental and vocal music - from medieval music to contemporary music - as a reference partner in this sector since over 35 years, previously through the Mécénat Musical Société Générale organization.
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Disseminating music
Support for artists goes with support for musical ensembles and actors who bring heritage to life. The Foundation is thus the partner and historical patron of independant orchestras et ensembles, which performs through some concerts and representations every year in France and abroad. The Foundation also supports venues, with the aim of promoting a vibrant culture. - Supporting the first steps of young musicians
Supporting music means first and foremost supporting young musicians, who are the promising talents of today and will be the great artists of tomorrow. As a partner of the two most prestigious training programs in France - the Conservatoires nationales supérieure de musique et de danse de Paris et de Lyon - the Foundation supports young musicians in their professional development through grants and instrument loans.
- Opening up to new audiences
Bringing musical heritage to life means making it accessible to audiences who are usually far from it. This desire for openness is deeply rooted in the Foundation’s policy, which aims to combine the values of excellence, sharing and innovation. It provides funding for music education projects that aim to encourage instrumental or vocal practice and to discover, love, promote classical music
In the field of art
The Foundation supports iconic cultural projects such as the Villa Albertine and the Musée d'Orsay, thus helping to expand and make accessible our vibrant and diverse cultural heritage.
By becoming a Major Partner of the residences of Villa Albertine, a cultural institution under the aegis of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of France in the United States. For three years, the Foundation supports the professional career path of artists, artistic excellence and the visibility of culture internationally.Created in 2021, Villa Albertine has become, thanks to its 10 branches in the United States, a powerful platform to support the development of the artistic and professional paths of cultural actors. Its residency program has enabled more than 180 artists, thinkers and cultural professionals to collaborate with leading U.S. institutions: Academy Awards, MoMA, MIT, Getty Center...
Discover the residents 2025 Villa Albertine (villa-albertine.org)
Societe Generale has also been a major sponsor of EPMOO, a public institution of the Orsay and Orangerie museums, since 2018 through its support to major exhibitions, including Van Gogh. The last months in 2023 and Gustave Caillebotte Painting men in 2024. In 2024, we support the launch of the Classes Culture project with the Musée d’Orsay, which complements our commitment to the museum in its missions of democratization and access to culture for as many people as possible.