Mennour Institute is an initiative of Mennour to promote research and education in the field of twentieth and twenty-first-century art. Through doctoral fellowships, educational programs and philanthropic activities, Mennour Institute is committed to supporting creativity, knowledge and the sharing of ideas in the field of contemporary art.
“Thanks to HEROES, research in genetic diseases is speeding up, whatever the obstacles, to the benefit of sick children and their families. The researchers and physicians at the Institut Imagine are committedly and skillfully practicing the best science of today in order to invent the best medicine for tomorrow.”
— Stanislas Lyonnet, President of the Institut Imagine & Kamel Mennour, President and Founder of Mennour
HEROES for Imagine
Launched in 2015 by Kamel Mennour, HEROES for Imagine is a fundraising auction for the benefit of Institut Imagine, a European leader in research, care and teaching related to genetic diseases.
Every two years, in autumn, an exceptional dinner is held in the heart of the Institut Imagine, located on the campus of the Hôpital Necker-Enfants malades AP-HP, in Paris.
This initiative rests on the commitment of gallery owner Kamel Mennour, with the support of the auction house Christie’s and Galerie kreo, and the participation of artists, designers and celebrities such as Gad Elmaleh, who are donating their work or their time to offer artworks and exceptional moments for sale.
On average, around forty lots are auctioned off during this unique evening, attended by over three hundred guest donors.
Over five editions, the cumulative amount contributed by the HEROES for Imagine initiative has reached more than €32 million (€3 million in 2015; €4,5 million in 2016; €7,2 million in 2018; €8,2 million in 2022, €10 million in 2024) which have been invested in strategic projects (development of artificial intelligence and data mining) and technology platforms, such as a DNA sequencer for the diagnosis of new genetic diseases.
“The gallery has been close to young artists from the beginning. Kamel Mennour spotted artists such as Camille Henrot and Mohamed Bourouissa very early on, and then support them throughout their careers. Twenty-five years on, Mennour continues to champion the work of new generations such as Ymane Chabi-Gara and Dhewadi Hadjab.
To reinforce this commitment, I have devised this unique programme. Mennour Emergence focuses on the collective and aims to support artists in one of the first decisive stages of their careers.
I think it’s essential that Mennour continues to act as a springboard for the voices of the new generation.”
— Jessy Mansuy, Global Executive Director of Mennour and initiator of the Mennour Emergence programme
To support artists in the early stages of their career, the Mennour Institute launched the advisory programme Mennour Emergence. Each year, six young graduates from French art schools receive support to set up a group exhibition in one of the Mennour spaces in Paris.
Mennour Emergence is a project initiated by Jessy Mansuy, Global Executive Director of Mennour. The exhibitions are curated by Christian Alandete, Scientific Director of Mennour.
The programme includes a total grant of €15,000 for the production of the works, i.e. €2,500 per artist, as well as full support in preparing a first group exhibition in a major gallery: curating, production, logistics and communication.
A call for applications is launched each year at the beginning of November and remains open until mid-December. It is sent exclusively to graduates of the Mennour Institute’s partner schools.
Applications are examined by a committee made up of professionals recognised for their commitment to emerging creation, whose permanent members are: Christian Alandete, Scientific Director, Jessy Mansuy, Global Executive Director—from the Mennour’s executive committee & Anna Labouze and Keimis Henni, founders of Artagon. The committee is chaired by Kamel Mennour and supplemented by guest personalities.
The first edition was organised in collaboration with the Beaux-Arts de Paris. The second edition is organised with the École des Arts Décoratifs - PSL, the Beaux-Arts de Paris and the École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts de Paris-Cergy.
Mennour organises interactive programmes and activities for all generations, confirming the gallery’s role as a vibrant space open to all.
Samedi en famille
Making contemporary art accessible to people of all ages, is what this program is about. A “Samedi en famille” is a free tour of an exhibition, followed by an activity and a snack for children aged 6 to 12. Anette Robinson, an enthusiastic lecturer at the national museums, conduct the visit from a child’s point of view.
With the partnership of LAVRUT, store specializing in graphic and fine arts, stationery and office supplies, supplier of the Samedi en famille
Talks and masterclasses
Mennour regularly schedules free round tables, conferences and masterclasses with artists and experts from the art world, both at the gallery and off-site.
School visits & exhibitions
Mennour organises visits for school groups, in collaboration with schools in the 4th and 6th arrondissements. Every year it also hosts exhibition projects devised by final-year art students from the École Massillon.
These initiatives are the latest addition to Mennour’s wideranging publishing policy, which over the last twenty years has included reference works, essays and catalogues that have always underpinned Mennour’s vision of promoting and sharing art with a broad public.
Bourse Mennour / Phd Grants
Each year, a jury of eminent academics award two grants of € 5,000 each to two PhD students to support them in developing their projects. These grants are designed to support, for example, a research phase in France or abroad, the writing phase or to enable the publication of the thesis.
Research topics can cover all fields related to the history of artistic creation from the late 19th century to the present day, the history of exhibitions and the art market, as well as issues relating to artistic circulation, exchange, and transfer on a global scale.
A call for applications was open in autumn 2024, and the winners will be announced in February 2025.
Eugène Carrière Prize
Mennour sponsors the Eugène Carrière Prize, awarded by the Académie française to two art-history books on the visual arts up to the 21st century.
The two prizes are officially announced at the annual public session of the Académie Française in Paris.
