News Heritage as a Common Language: The AXA Foundation for Human Progress at the Heart of the Franco-Mexican Bicentennial
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Heritage as a Common Language: The AXA Foundation for Human Progress at the Heart of the Franco-Mexican Bicentennial

03.09.2026 3mins | News

In the fields of Arts, Culture, and Heritage, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress is committed to:

  • preserving and transmitting material heritage, intangible legacies, and savoir-faire (traditional skills);

  • nurturing collective memory;

  • supporting tomorrow's creations.

This mission takes on special significance in celebration of the bicentennial of diplomatic relations between France and Mexico. 

To celebrate this anniversary, the AXA Foundation is partnering with AXA Mexico and l’Institut Français (the French Institute) of Latin America at the French Embassy in Mexico. Together, they share the conviction that living heritage is a powerful force for dialogue between nations, social cohesion, and the resilience of our societies.

 

From September to November 2026, “La Gran Fiesta Franco-Mexicana” 

Announced by French President Emmanuel Macron during his state visit to Mexico City with President Claudia Sheinbaum on November 7, 2025, “La Gran Fiesta Franco-Mexicana” is the result of numerous collaborations between institutions, artists, and creators from France and Mexico. The program will take place in 21 cities across Mexico and includes nearly 200 events spanning science, the arts, education, and innovation such as exhibitions, concerts, film series, performances, competitions, symposiums, and conferences.

 

Here are a few examples of projects on the program of “La Gran Fiesta Franco-Mexicana”:

  • France as the guest of honor at the Cervantino International Festival in Guanajuato;

  • French photography at Fotoseptiembre;

  • The Musée national d’art moderne (National Museum of Modern Art) du Centre Pompidou at Bellas Artes;

  • (LA)Horde, which brings together French and Mexican dancers;

  • The Manufactures nationales and “los Gobelinos” of Guadalajara at the Palacio de Cultura Citibanamex - Palacio Iturbide

 

From Sèvres to Mexico City: Connecting Yesterday's Savoir-Faire with Tomorrow's Creation

By joining the exhibition of the Manufactures nationales and “los Gobelinos” of Guadalajara, “Historias Entretejidas, Francia-México. Un legado compartido” (Intertwined stories, France-Mexico. A shared heritage), curated by Ana Elena Mallet and held in the heart of Mexico City, the AXA Foundation for Human Progress continues its commitment to protecting and promoting living heritage beyond borders.

In January 2026, the AXA Foundation became a Lead Partner of the Manufactures Nationales—Sèvres & Mobilier national , through a groundbreaking five-year partnership (2025–2029) dedicated to preserving and transmitting the excellence of French decorative arts and design and to promoting French creation’s international influence.

The exhibition in Mexico City will highlight the cultural exchange between France and Mexico, showcasing the influence of Gobelins and Aubusson on 20th-century Mexican tapestry. French craftsmanship has nurtured a vibrant textile tradition, blending indigenous traditions with European techniques.

This partnership reflects the values of the AXA Foundation for Human Progress: preserving and passing on endangered craftsmanship to foster contemporary creation and a cultural resilience - and sharing these as widely as possible.

“Heritage is not about the past; it is what connects us today.”

At the AXA Foundation for Human Progress, we believe that safeguarding cultural heritage, preserving orphaned know-how and supporting creative industries are essential to our resilience. They strengthen social cohesion and generate new economic opportunities rooted in local communities.

In this spirit, we have joined the Bicentennial Corporate Patrons’ Circle, alongside businesses and corporate foundations such as Safran, Sanofi, BNP Paribas, and the TotalEnergies Foundation.

This new chapter in Franco-Mexican friendship thus illustrates the AXA Foundation for Human Progress’s ambition: to help recreate common ground in a world that needs it more than ever.