ABOUT FONDS FANTON
Fonds Fanton is an international arts organization based in Arles, France, dedicated to supporting artistic creation, cultural exchange, and community engagement. Through the Fonds Fanton Collection, Galerie Fanton, and Maison Fanton, the organization brings together contemporary artistic practice, cultural heritage, and opportunities for artists and audiences to connect.
OUR ORIGIN
Fonds Fanton takes its name from Dr. Eugène Marie Dedieu Fanton (1837–1884), who served as chief physician at the Hôtel-Dieu-Saint-Esprit (also known as the old hospital of Arles) and devoted his life to caring for others. During the devastating cholera epidemic of 1884, Dr. Fanton remained at his post despite his own precarious health, treating patients until he contracted the disease himself and died at the age of 47. In recognition of his extraordinary service, the city honored his memory by naming a street in the historic heart of Arles after him: the Rue du Docteur Fanton.
More than a century later, Fonds Fanton makes its home at the corner of this historic street and the Rue du Séminaire, drawing inspiration from Dr. Fanton's enduring legacy of compassion, generosity, and commitment to the community. His story informs an institutional philosophy centered on care, accessibility, artistic exchange, and the belief that cultural spaces can contribute to the collective vitality and well-being of a community.
In the French archival tradition, a fonds refers to a body of records or work preserved together, reflecting the history and contributions of an individual or institution. The name Fonds Fanton embraces this tradition, expressing a commitment to supporting artistic creation while documenting and preserving the artworks, experiences, and cultural contributions of the artists, collaborators, and broader community who shape its programs and impact. Through the Fonds Fanton Collection, Galerie Fanton, and Maison Fanton, the organization seeks to cultivate an evolving cultural legacy rooted in Arles, one enriched by artistic perspectives from around the world.
MISSION
Fonds Fanton provides artists from around the world with the time, space, and resources to explore their creative potential and develop new work, while fostering connections between artists and the cultural life of Arles.
Through Maison Fanton, our artist residency and studios, and Galerie Fanton, our public gallery, we welcome artists from diverse backgrounds and create opportunities for artistic exploration, cultural exchange, and community participation through exhibitions, open studios, free workshops, and public programming.
Inspired by the legacy of Dr. Fanton, our mission is grounded in care and generosity, and in the belief that providing artists with the freedom and support to create can open new possibilities for both the artists themselves and the communities they engage with.
TEAM & BOARD
Fonds Fanton is currently developing its international team and board of directors, bringing together artists, cultural professionals, and advisors who will help guide the organization's growth and long-term vision. Additional team and board appointments will be announced as the organization continues to develop.
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR LORI HAWKINS
Lori Hawkins is a documentary photographer and the founder and director of Fonds Fanton, an international arts organization established in Arles, France. Since 2001, her photographic practice has explored human rights, post-conflict recovery, and the lives of women in marginalized communities, informing her commitment to the role of art in fostering cultural understanding, dialogue, and social engagement.
Drawing on more than two decades of international experience, Hawkins founded Fonds Fanton to expand opportunities for artists to create, experiment, and share their work without the limitations of financial or geographic barriers. Through artist residencies, exhibitions, and public programming, she envisions an institution where artistic practice and community engagement mutually enrich one another.
Hawkins' long-term vision is to establish Fonds Fanton as a sustainable international institution, one that supports artistic independence, strengthens cultural exchange, and creates lasting opportunities for artists and the communities around them.