Philharmonie de Paris
The Société Générale Corporate Foundation is the founding patron of the Philharmonie de Paris, which opened its doors in January 2015. Convinced by the vision behind the project, the Foundation committed itself from the outset to supporting this landmark institution.
Designed by Jean Nouvel, the complex is located in the Parc de La Villette and includes four concert halls, with a total capacity ranging from 3,500 to 5,600 spectators, as well as conference rooms, educational spaces, and an exhibition hall.
Spread across more than 20,000 m² dedicated to music, the Philharmonie offers audiences of all ages opportunities to discover classical music, deepen their knowledge, and attend prestigious concerts.
A Partnership Structured Around Three Pillars
1. Musical Season
A showcase for French musical excellence, the Philharmonie de Paris is one of the most welcoming institutions for international orchestras. From its very first season, it has hosted the world’s most prestigious ensembles: the Berlin, New York, and Munich Philharmonics, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, among others.
Alongside them perform the most renowned conductors and soloists of our time, all within an exceptional setting.
2. Démos Orchestra
As the founding patron of the project, the Société Générale Corporate Foundation wholeheartedly supports Démos, a unique initiative in France and Europe. Since 2010, Démos has fostered cultural democratization through orchestral practice, placing music at the heart of children’s development and highlighting the value of social engagement.
This innovative programme offers collective musical training to children aged 7 to 12 who, for economic, social, or geographical reasons, have limited access to classical music. It primarily targets young people living in priority urban areas (QPV) or rural revitalization zones (ZRR), often far from cultural institutions.
Thanks to its dedicated collective pedagogy, collaboration between cultural and social stakeholders, and ongoing training for instructors, Démos has already enabled more than 12,000 children across France to discover orchestral music. By nurturing the citizens of tomorrow, Démos places personal growth, cultural openness, and social inclusion at the heart of its mission.
3. La Balise Radio
Supported by the Société Générale Corporate Foundation since 2025, La Balise is a space for sound experimentation and discovery designed for young people.
A true incubator of talent, it encourages the emergence of innovative radio formats and gives voice to a diverse youth, promoting social inclusion and intergenerational transmission.
In residence at the Philharmonie, the Belladone and Transmission collectives guide young participants in creating documentaries, audio fictions, and live broadcasts, while sharing their expertise. La Balise offers workshops, sound walks, activity cycles at the Musée de la Musique, as well as original audio collections such as Portrait d’un orchestre and Mon instrument habite ma maison.
Public broadcasts, aired live on the Philharmonie’s website and social media, highlight musical diversity and the freedom of expression of young hosts.
La Balise thus embodies a civic‑minded, creative, and inclusive project where young people invent new narratives and reshape our ways of listening to the world.