In the heart of Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, lies a space entirely dedicated to contemporary creation: Fondation H. Established in 2017 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Hassanein Hiridjee, it occupies a 2,200 m² historic building that was carefully restored and expanded between 2021 and 2023.
As the first private foundation for contemporary art in the country, Fondation H plays a key role in supporting and promoting the Malagasy and African art scene. Its mission is to provide a platform for visibility, dialogue, and creative support to artists from the continent and its diasporas. To do this, it offers several free and inclusive programs: the Paritana Prize (which highlights emerging Malagasy talent), artist residencies in Antananarivo and Paris (in partnership with the Cité internationale des arts), creative workshops for children, training for artists, and regular cultural outreach activities.
Fondation H is also a welcoming and thoughtfully designed space. It includes well-lit exhibition rooms, a library, a mediation room, creative studios, a friendly café, a courtyard, a garden, offices, and an apartment for artists in residence. Everything is arranged to foster openness, interaction, and discovery. The foundation receives between 12,000 and 15,000 visitors each month, reflecting the growing public interest in contemporary art in Madagascar.
Environmentally conscious, the foundation has opted for a sustainable building design, powered entirely by solar energy and naturally ventilated without air conditioning.
More than an art center, Fondation H is a meaningful and accessible place that helps contemporary art thrive locally and internationally.
