Art Collection and Museum Partnerships Reflect Banking Group’s Cultural Philosophy

A Swiss banking institution has built a corporate art collection over several decades while supporting cultural venues across multiple continents.

Mirabaud serves as a founding member of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Geneva, maintaining this partnership since the institution’s establishment. The bank also sponsors the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Bechtler Foundation in Uster, and the Cerezales Foundation in Spain.

These commitments extend beyond financial contributions to active engagement with contemporary art’s role in society. The institution emphasizes accessibility and public exposure rather than exclusive collector privileges.

“Contemporary art plays an essential role in our society by inviting us to re-evaluate the world and question ourselves,” said Lionel Aeschlimann, senior managing partner. “We want to support exhibitions that will make their mark on art history and be accessible to as wide an audience as possible.”

Centre Pompidou Partnership Extends Through Renovation Period

The bank renewed its partnership with Paris’s Centre Pompidou for three additional years, continuing a relationship begun in 2022. The agreement includes support for exhibitions during the museum’s renovation period.

The institution backed the Centre Pompidou’s final exhibition before closure—a show dedicated to photographer Wolfgang Tillmans. The exhibition occupies 6,000 square meters and represents the largest presentation of the artist’s work ever organized in France.

During renovation, the partnership will support one exhibition annually from 2025 through 2027 at prominent Paris venues including the Louvre and Grand Palais.

Stéphane Jaouen, director of wealth management for the French operations, emphasized connections between artistic vision and institutional values. The bank identifies alignments between contemporary art’s questioning nature and its approach to client service.

“Wolfgang Tillmans’s work embodies a freedom of vision, a constant search for meaning and an openness to the world that deeply resonate with our values,” Jaouen said.

Cultural Support Spans Multiple Disciplines

Beyond visual arts, the bank supports cultural initiatives including the Geneva Lux festival and Quartier des Bains in Geneva. These partnerships extend to music, performance, and interdisciplinary cultural programming.

The institution acquires works for its corporate collection, supporting artists directly through purchases. This dual approach combines institutional partnerships with individual artist support.

Cultural commitment reflects broader organizational philosophy emphasizing long-term relationships and community engagement. The bank positions cultural support as consistent with its wealth management approach rather than separate philanthropic activity.

Seven generations of family ownership enable sustained cultural commitments extending beyond typical corporate sponsorship cycles. The founding family can maintain partnerships through market volatility and strategic transitions.

Geographic Distribution Reflects International Presence

Cultural partnerships span the institution’s geographic footprint including Switzerland, France, Spain, and Canada. This distribution mirrors the bank’s operational presence across multiple countries.

Regional teams participate in local cultural initiatives while the broader organization maintains signature partnerships with major institutions. The approach combines grassroots engagement with high-profile institutional support.

Cultural programming provides client engagement opportunities beyond traditional wealth management interactions. Some clients attend exhibition openings, artist talks, and cultural events supported by the bank.

The institution frames cultural commitment as expressing values rather than marketing strategy. Aeschlimann emphasized supporting exhibitions based on artistic merit and historical importance regardless of immediate business benefit.

“This idea is at the heart of our commitment to contemporary art, as it encourages us to look beyond appearances and explore new perspectives,” Aeschlimann said.

The bank’s art collection includes works by artists featured in supported exhibitions. Acquiring pieces before providing exhibition support demonstrates genuine engagement with artistic practice rather than opportunistic association.

Cultural partnerships require sustained financial commitment and organizational attention. The banking group maintains these relationships across leadership transitions and market cycles, reflecting institutional priority rather than individual executive preference.