Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Fondation pour l'art contemporain Salomon was founded in June 2001 by Claudine and Jean-Marc Salomon, collectors committed to the diffusion of contemporary art. Their aim was to offer a space dedicated to the presentation and understanding of works for a non-specialist audience. This mission was carried out through exhibitions, meetings with artists, round tables and catalogue publications. The foundation first occupied the Castle of Arenthon, a 16th century building, an early example of Renaissance architecture in Haute Savoie, before settling in 2014 at La FabriC in Annecy to expand its cultural activities.

The Castle of Arenthon, located in Alex near Annecy, overlooks the Fier valley and offers a panorama of the surrounding mountains. Between 2001 and 2013, he hosted the foundation after a restructuring to develop exhibition spaces. The castle park, inaugurated with work by Antony Gormley (Still Standing, 2000), featured contemporary sculptures integrated into a landscape garden. The foundation organized major exhibitions, such as those dedicated to Gilbert & George (2001), Jan Fabre (2003), or Vera Molnar (2004), often accompanied by catalogues.

In 2014, the foundation transferred its activities to La FabriC in Annecy, a more accessible space to develop exhibitions, artist residences and educational programs. Among her initiatives, in 2015 she created the Salomon Foundation Residency Award, an annual award for a French-speaking artist by a six-month residency in New York, with a $24,000 scholarship. The foundation, which has been recognized as a public utility since 2001, has welcomed more than 138,000 visitors, including 24,000 school children, marking its place in cultural mediation.

The Castle of Arenthon, whose origins date back to the 13th century with changes in the 16th century, illustrates the transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in Savoy. His park, conceived as a garden of pleasure, highlighted contemporary works in dialogue with the Alpine landscape. The foundation also built a tea salon and a specialized library of over 1,500 books on contemporary art, strengthening its role as a resource centre.

Since its move, the Foundation has diversified its exhibition spaces, notably in L-Abbaye (Annecy-le-Vieux) and in La FabriC, with annual programmes including thematic exhibitions, performances and collaborations with art schools. His commitment to contemporary art also translates into international partnerships, such as the New York residence, and an active policy of publishing and archiving his activities.

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