Cultural sponsorship

Objective:

  • Support the development and promotion of music and modern and contemporary art.

2008 highlight:

  • More than € 9.6 million devoted to cultural sponsorship in 2008.
Two main areas of interest:
1. Classical music (since 1987):
  • Société Générale Group has set up a dedicated structure " the Mécénat Musical Société Générale (MMSG) " an association founded in 1987 under the French law of 1901 which benefits from a yearly subsidy of € 1.5 million.
  • Société Générale has been the main sponsor of the Salle Pleyel auditorium since it reopened in autumn 2006 (€ 0.6 million/yr).
In 2008, MMSG supported the music group Les Jeunes Solistes (formed by R. Safir), and placed a variety of orders with French composers.
Most music sponsorships by MMSG in France are signed for several years, the aim being to ensure the viability of the projects it supports. On average, sponsorships are awarded for approximately 5 years, but may be longer in certain instances (e.g.: grants for the specialisation courses at the CNSMD conservatories in Paris and Lyon since 1988. Total amount to date: € 1.3 million).
2. Modern and contemporary art (since 1995):
  • Société Générale began building its company collection in 1995/96 and has enriched it every year since 2004 (new acquisitions). On average, the yearly budget for acquisitions has been € 0.4 million.
  • The Group also sponsors institutions (museums) presenting exhibitions and displays (€ 0.3 million/yr).
2008 saw Société Générale form a new partnership with Le Laboratoire, a new private art centre in Paris around the theme of "artist meets scientist" (artist residences, etc.).
Cultural sponsorship around the globe:
Société Générale's two main areas of interest when it comes to cultural sponsorship are also promoted by the Group's networks and subsidiaries, both in France and abroad, using their own budgets. Moreover, the networks and subsidiaries also sponsor other forms of culture, particularly those that match the passions and interests of a specific customer segment or country (e.g. sponsorship of Unifrance by the Group's Private Banking business in order to promote French cinema abroad).