Association les Amis du Palais de Tokyo

Mission & Vision

Since its founding in 2002, the Association des Amis du Palais de Tokyo (or “Friends of Palais de Tokyo”) has been committed to supporting Europe’s leading center for contemporary art.

Located on the banks of the Seine, across from the Eiffel Tower, the Palais de Tokyo is a vibrant cultural hub known for its bold, diverse, and inclusive exhibitions. Through three annual cycles of exhibitions, the institution highlights the French and emerging art scenes while fostering global artistic dialogue.

The non-profit Association plays a key role in promoting this dynamic cultural space, ensuring its continued impact as a creative, intellectual, and social meeting place. In addition to groundbreaking exhibitions, the Palais de Tokyo is also a place to meet and relax that offers a wide range of experiences, including a café, bookshop, restaurants, a nightclub, and an extensive program of talks, screenings, and performances connected to its exhibitions.

Actions Led

The Friends of the Palais de Tokyo actively support the Palais de Tokyo’s initiatives that ensure contemporary art reaches diverse audiences and contributes to positive societal change.

Key efforts include but are not limited to:

• Artistic and Educational Engagement
  A true dedication to making contemporary art accessible to all, with a strong support to the Palais’s ambitious outreach program with a special focus on communities with specific needs, particularly in mental health. This commitment led to the opening of the “hamo” in 2023, a dedicated space for education, artistic discovery, and inclusive creative exploration.
• Sustainability and Institutional Innovation
  A strong belief that culture and sustainability go hand in hand. As key supporters of the Palais de Tokyo’s pioneering sustainability department, the association advocates for a philosophy of “institutional permaculture.” Inspired by agricultural permaculture principles, this approach informs both the center’s artistic programming and its operational methods, creating a more sustainable cultural institution.

Projects That U.S. Donors Can Support

Through Friends of Fondation de France, American donors can play a pivotal role in advancing the Palais de Tokyo’s ambitious charitable, educational, and cultural missions, ensuring that contemporary art remains accessible and impactful for diverse audiences worldwide.

• Exhibition Production and Support:
  Donations will enable groundbreaking exhibitions, including the upcoming world-first institutional retrospective of American artist RAMMELLZEE, a pioneering figure in graffiti and hip-hop culture (February to August 2025) and a historic exhibition exploring the development of Franco-American artistic relations from the 1960s onwards, curated by Naomi Beckwith (October 2025 to February 2026).
• Educational Programs and Public Engagement:
  Your support will fund workshops and guided tours for school groups and underserved communities, artist talks, and publications that enhance the appreciation of contemporary art. Online educational content will also be developed to make art accessible to international audiences, ensuring global reach and inclusivity.
• Research and Artistic Innovation:
  Contributions will sustain innovative research and creative practices, fostering cross-cultural exchange and dialogue while showcasing contemporary art’s transformative power.

By supporting these initiatives, donors help enhance the Palais de Tokyo’s mission of fostering creativity, promoting cultural exchange, and ensuring that contemporary art remains accessible, impactful, and relevant for audiences worldwide.

Photo © Olivier Lécuyer