Malagasy businessman Hassanein Hiridjee’s Fondation H to shut Paris exhibition space 

Fondation H, the contemporary art foundation founded by Malagasy businessman Hassanein Hiridjee, will close its Paris exhibition space in September as it shifts its full focus to supporting artists and creative programs across Africa. 

The move ends the foundation’s five-year presence in the French capital and marks a strategic shift toward expanding its activities from its headquarters in Antananarivo, Madagascar. 

The Paris venue, located in the historic Marais district, opened in September 2020 through a partnership with the Cité internationale des arts. It served as a residency and exhibition space for artists from Madagascar and the wider Indian Ocean region while introducing African contemporary art to audiences in France and beyond. 

With the closure, Fondation H said it will consolidate its exhibitions, artist residencies, grants and mentorship programs at its 2,200-square-meter headquarters in Antananarivo, allowing more resources to be invested directly in Africa’s creative community.

Building opportunities at home 

Founded in 2017, Fondation H is Madagascar’s first private contemporary art foundation and was recognized as a public utility in 2018. The foundation operates a free public arts center in downtown Antananarivo, providing fully funded programs for emerging and established visual artists. 

Its initiatives include the Prix Paritana, professional training programs, artist residencies and creative workshops for children, all aimed at strengthening the country’s contemporary art ecosystem. 

In a statement, Hassanein Hiridjee, founder and president of Fondation H, said the Paris space was created to “bring the French and international public closer to contemporary African creation and to build new bridges and opportunities.” 

The foundation’s headquarters is powered by solar energy and includes exhibition galleries, artists’ studios, an art library, a permanent collection and a public café. By concentrating future activities in Madagascar, Fondation H said it hopes to expand access to professional training, exhibition opportunities and international collaborations for artists across the Indian Ocean region and the African continent.

Hiridjee’s Pan-African investment strategy

Hiridjee, a French-Malagasy entrepreneur born in Antananarivo in 1975, is the chief executive of AXIAN Group. He co-founded the pan-African company with his brother, Amin Hiridjee, in 2015, with a focus on inclusive economic growth, innovation and long-term investment across Africa. 

Today, AXIAN Group employs more than 7,500 people in 17 countries and operates across telecommunications, financial services, energy, real estate and innovation, making it one of the region’s largest diversified business groups.

The move by Fondation H reflects Hiridjee’s wider approach of building long-term institutions and supporting economic and creative growth across Africa. By shifting its center of activity back to Madagascar, the foundation aims to strengthen the continent’s contemporary art ecosystem while expanding opportunities for artists at home.