Let’s rewrite the history of Cezanne
Paul Cezanne may now be considered one of the greatest French artists and the father of modern painting, but the Post-Impressionist struggled for recognition and was ripped to shreds by art critics during his lifetime. After being forced to sell his family home, Jas de Bouffan, he worked in Les Lauves, north of Aix-en-Provence, in a studio he built with views of his beloved Mont Sainte-Victoire.
Cezanne spent his final years working in the legendary art studio. It was left empty and stripped of his work when he died. Its doors stayed locked for over 40 years… Until a passionate art historian, John Rewald, bought the studio with the help of funds from a council of 114 American patrons. It was given to Aix University then sold back to the council in 1969 to become a museum. That’s the story of how patronage from across the pond saved this slice of Cezanne’s legacy.
This long-standing bond between patronage and protecting history with passion continues today, with the renovation of Jas de Bouffan and the Year of Cezanne in 2025, a tribute to the father of Post-Impressionism and Cubism.
Aix-en-Provence Council is launching a patronage campaign to raise funds, with CMA CGM, Axa, Crédit Agricole and the Jan Michalski Foundation already on board. Both France and the US are involved in the campaign.
Patronage means
- Contributing to public interest and the common good.
- Being part of an all-encompassing regional campaign for locals and internationals.
- Inspiring younger generations and making them feel part of a shared vision.
- Promoting your employer branding whilst enjoying tax benefits, whether you’re a company or an individual.
The project
2025, the Year of Cezanne, is a unique cultural and artistic event in a major city, Aix-en-Provence.
Every landscape and every depiction, from Mont Sainte-Victoire to Jas de Bouffan where Cezanne’s family lived, captures the artist’s life here.
350,000 visitors are expected to visit or revisit:
- 3 major sites
- Jas de Bouffan: first phase opening in June 2025.
- Cezanne’s workshop: reopening after a 2-year renovation.
- Bibémus quarries: a new outdoor trail.
- 1 outstanding exhibition
- Musée Granet: 100 pieces loaned by international museums depict the relationship between Cezanne and his family home, Jas de Bouffan/June 28th 2025 opening.
- 2 museums
- Musée du Pavillon de Vendôme: L’expo des expos – Cezanne au Pavillon de Vendôme.
- Musée du Vieil Aix: Aix et Cezanne.
- 1 unique social and cultural centre
- Petite Galerie Cezanne at La Manufacture gallery and touring exhibition in the Aix region/from February 2025.
- 1 cultural and artistic season
- A season devoted to Paul Cezanne is an opportunity to bring people together. The biggest establishments in the region have joined forces with social and cultural associations to provide their expertise and vision of the Aix master’s work.
How do you become a corporate patron?
Corporate patrons earmark their donation towards a project (list available on request).
Aix-en-Provence Council collects and assigns 100% of corporate donations to the project chosen by the benefactor.
Patronage benefits are capped at 25% of the donation.
What are the tax benefits?
Cash contribution – Contribution in kind – Skills contribution (Article 238a of the French tax law):
Corporation tax relief:
- 60% up to 2 M€ for general interest donations.
- 40% in excess of 2 M€ for general interest donations.
- Donation cap: 20,000 € or 0.5% of turnover exc. VAT, any surplus is carried over to the next 5 years.
How do you donate as an individual?
Everyone is welcome to donate whatever they want and for whatever reason.
Aix-en-Provence Mécénat collects donations from individuals and gets them on board specific and general projects.
What are the tax benefits?
(Article 200 of the French tax law):
Tax relief:
- 66% of the amount contributed to general interest donations capped at 20% of taxable income.
Benefits:
Flat rate of 73 € since January 1st 2021.
Cezanne au Jas de Bouffan is part of the international 2025, the Year of Cezanne project. It involves a long-term investment scheme from Aix-en Provence Council in excess of 26 M€, with 60% going towards renovating Jas de Bouffan and opening it to visitors in June 2025.
Contact
City of Aix-en-Provence
Sponsorship Mission
Magali Robert-Zebrowski
