The Fondation d’entreprise Hermès encourages new talent and supports emerging forms of artistic expression. Reflecting the artistic roots of the house of Hermès, support for the production of new works of art is a central concern. True to the house's culture of artisanship, the Foundation focuses on direct funding for creative artists, for the realisation of their works.
The Foundation has inherited Hermès's interest in the diversity of the contemporary art scene, providing support for artists working in a broad range of disciplines.
Specific projects embrace both the production and dissemination of works of art.
In this context, the Foundation oversees planning and programming for six exhibition spaces worldwide (in Bern, Brussels, New York, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo) in collaboration with specialist curators, most of whom offer a particular focus on site-specific installations. Video works commissioned from a number of artists each year are screened in a touring, self-contained architectural unit, the H BOX. Visual artists are invited to take up residencies at the Hermès workshops.
The Foundation organises two prizes designed to encourage rising talent: the Hermès Foundation Missulsang for contemporary art in Korea, and the Prix Émile Hermès in the field of design.
The Foundation also supports exhibitions and productions in the performing arts, especially new works exploring the intersection of different artistic disciplines, presented in France and around the world.