Nahed Ojjeh, a Syrian of origin, has been one of the main benefactors of
the National Library of France (BnF), for the realization of its exhibition (Utopies, Sartre), and
the enrichment of its collections (acquisition of the manuscript of Voyage au bout de la nuit by Céline,
manuscripts of the nine volumes of the Mémoires d'Outre-Tombe of Chateaubriand and more
recently from the Archives of Guy Debord, recognized as the National Treasury). She made significant donations
Domaine de Chantilly and the Louvre Museum, and supports the Department of
research of the Quai Branly Museum. She created the annual “Nahed Ojjeh” award to help and
reward artists in difficulty.
Champagne Louis Roederer accompanies the BnF in its acquisition and research missions
heritage. He has supported the Gallery of Photography since its opening in
2003, and followed, in this context, the work of many artists, such as Bettina Rheims or
Sophie Calle and Jean-Michel Alberola. The Champagne house has been the patron of more than twenty-five
exhibitions on the photographic collections of the BnF, from Cartier-Bresson to
Raymond Depardon. She completed these actions by creating, in 2006, the Louis Roederer
photography, to distinguish and encourage young researchers of excellence in this field.
She also participated in the acquisition of photographic and heritage works for
collections of the BnF. Finally, it is one of the main partners of Festivalandco, an
not-for-profit based at Shakespeare & Company Bookstore that continues the library tradition
independent and, through its weekly readings and residency program, supports the
letters and writers for more than fifty years.
The Crédit Coopératif Group is the banking partner of nearly 9,000 companies and associations
cultural professionals (performing arts, cultural industries) whose activities he supports by
a specific approach and a fine knowledge. Its Corporate Foundation which celebrated its 25th
anniversary in 2009 contributes to the development of the social and solidarity economy in
many areas: combating exclusion, access to citizenship for people with disabilities,
sustainable development, international solidarity, research and culture. Through its
Combining culture and solidarity, it is the partner of the Festival d'Avignon, the
Federation of Ecomuseums and Society Museums, European Festival Orphée Théâtre et Handicap,
the Encounters Ici & Là of the Theatre of the Commune of Aubervilliers, and the “Gates of Time”,
heritage awareness campaign, launched in 2005 by the Ministry of Culture and
Communication for young people in neighbourhoods.
At the initiative of its president, Bruno Caron, the Norac group has become one of the main sponsors
contemporary creation in France. Since 1992, he has developed a collection of
bringing together works of Abstraction since the post-war period, with Aurélie Nemours, François
Morellet, Martin Barré, the Supports/Surface group and, more recently, emerging artists.
Partner of the Palais de Tokyo, sponsor of public orders, Norac created in 2007 the association
Art Norac and launches the Ateliers de Rennes project, a contemporary art biennial, the first of which
held in 2008. At the same time, Art Norac supports the association Les
Entrepreneurs Patrons who, every year, organize an exhibition of sculptures in the Ar Park
Milin’ in Chateaubourg. It is also present alongside several art structures
contemporary in Brittany like 40mcube, Libre Art Bitre, Les Archives de la critique d'art, or the
Auction-Centre d'art contemporain de Rennes.
French Heritage Society, a non-profit American association founded in 1982, is dedicated to the
preservation of French architectural heritage in France and the United States. It has more than
2,000 members in 15 delegations, 14 in the United States and one in France. It has already
participated in 450 projects to restore civil and religious buildings, plantations, parks and
gardens. It organizes educational programs for architects and craftsmen
heritage restoration, student exchanges in France and the United States, seminars
for curators and collectors. It has also responded to disasters
to save the endangered heritage: Mississippi floods in 1993, storm of
December 2009 in France, Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana in 2005. All the actions of French
Heritage Society are made possible through the generosity of members of the association, but
sponsors, companies and foundations.
Created in the wake of the law of 1 August 2003 on patronage,
associations and foundations, the distinctions that constitute the circle of
Patrons» of Culture are intended to demonstrate the recognition of the State
to companies, foundations, associations and private persons
who, through their acts of patronage or related activities, both in France
have made an outstanding contribution to cultural development
The list of distinctions already awarded is available at:
www.mecenat.culture.gouv.fr