HERMÈS - 2020 Universal registration document

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PRESENTATION OF THE GROUP AND ITS RESULTS FONDATION D'ENTREPRISE

FONDATION D'ENTREPRISE 1.11

forms of theatrical expression. In this very difficult context for the performing arts, the Foundation continues to support creators in order to promote the emergence of daring projects from people willing to venture off the beaten track. Lastly, the call for applications for the “Artists in the City” scholarship scheme, intended for students enrolled in a public dance and theatre school, was launched on the 1 July in order to be able to support new students in financial difficulty, from the start of the school year. In addition to these many forward-looking initiatives, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès has continued to be involved on the ground, including monitoring the solidarity initiatives identified as part of the H 3 – Heart, Head, Hand programme, or production support for visual artists in residence in Maison Hermès’ production units. While a few dates had to be moved, the Foundation’s exhibitions were able to open for their audiences in dedicated spaces in Europe and Asia. In addition, following Gregory Halpern’s residency in Guadeloupe, the “Soleil Cou Coupé” exhibition by the American photographer, the fourth winner of Immersion, a Franco-American photographic commission, was inaugurated in September at the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson in Paris. Traditionally dedicated to new stage productions, the autumn season was disrupted by the announcement of a new lockdown. The first high point of New Settings #10 – which now runs between autumn, spring and summer – was interrupted after the presentation of the first show. Several productions were therefore postponed to the next two occasions, or possibly even to next year, thanks to the Foundation’s mobilisation alongside artists directly affected by the closure of performance venues. Lastly, in 2020, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès expanded its multi-faceted action in favour of biodiversity and ecosystems by undertaking to create a contemporary garden with the Saline Royale d’Arc-et-Senans, designed to be an oasis of biodiversity, in the same vein as the eighteenth-century project imagined by Claude-Nicolas Ledoux. Throughout a turbulent year, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès has chosen to strengthen its support to ensure the continuity of the projects undertaken as part of its programmes. Consistency, loyalty and responsibility have guided its choices to meet the challenges of our time. The full report on the activities of the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès is available at: www.fondationdentreprisehermes.org, in the section “The Foundation”.

Created in 2008, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès was keen to pursue its actions during this unusual year, supporting the programs that structure it. The four main pillars that drive the Foundation – creation, transmission of savoir-faire , protection of the environment and solidarity – have continued to guide its choices in the public interest, while it has remained attentive to needs that may have emerged in the areas in which it runs initiatives. In 2020, time seemed to stand still not once but twice in France, however the Foundation continued its commitments. It was very active alongside its beneficiaries, artists, project leaders, charitable associations, etc. so that everyone could continue to move forward. The Foundation has been sure to roll out its activities and to adapt to the situation, even reorganising some of its programmes, such as Manufact’Home, so as to compensate for the interruption of Manufacto due to the closure of schools. Led by craftpeople, three tutorials invite participants in their own homes to create contemporary objects, step by step, using everyday equipment and tools. Accessible to everyone, the Manufact’Home videos were uploaded to the Foundation’s YouTube channel and relayed on social networks, allowing a large audience to familiarise themselves with craftsmanship savoir-faire in a fun way. The Fondation d’entreprise Hermès has also acted to ensure that Manufacto’s 2019-2020 school year was successful, despite the weeks of interruption. Thanks to the help of our craftpeople and schools, each student in the Manufacto program was able to feel pride in having handcrafted an object on their own. As soon as the lockdown ended, various calls for projects were launched so that the groups concerned could start new initiatives as quickly as possible with the Foundation’s support. Its strength and commitment alongside its beneficiaries have been essential during these periods of uncertainty. This enabled applications for the Manufacto 2020-2021 school year to be opened and relayed by partner academies, some of which for the first time. In December 2020, 55 schools were involved in this program, i.e. more than 1,400 students from primary schools to high school. At the same time, applications opened on 11 May using professional networks seeking craftpeople, designers and engineers wishing to explore other avenues of innovation in the field of glass, the material to which the fifth Académie des savoir-faire will be dedicated in 2021. A call for international New Settings projects was similarly launched for artists from all backgrounds wishing to experiment with new

42 2020 UNIVERSAL REGISTRATION DOCUMENT HERMÈS INTERNATIONAL