Open Letter — Why I Founded ARS Foundation

Art is not an accessory.

Art Istambul

I established ARS Foundation with the conviction that the development of a society cannot rest solely on economic indicators or technological progress, but also on its ability to promote what gives depth, cohesion, and meaning to our collective life. In this context, art and culture hold an essential place.

With time, certain priorities become clearer.

The first is the human and intellectual environment in which we live.

Where and with whom we live matters far more than we often realise. It is not only about physical proximity, but about belonging, bonds, and community. In an increasingly fragmented world, preserving spaces of authentic connection and cultural reference points becomes fundamental.

The second is the continuity of purpose.

I do not see maturity as a stage of withdrawal. On the contrary, once we have passed the midpoint of our fifties, I believe the years ahead should be lived as a time of contribution, transmission, and new beginnings. The real risk is not ageing, but doing so disconnected, without horizon, without responsibility toward something greater than ourselves.

ARS Foundation was born in response to these convictions.

Art is not an accessory.

It is a source of balance, reflection, and presence. Surrounding ourselves with beauty — with creation, thought, and sensitivity — is not a luxury, but a profoundly human necessity. Culture strengthens the social fabric, inspires new generations, and keeps alive the essential dimension of who we are.

It is in Switzerland, where the philanthropic tradition and institutional responsibility have combined excellence, discretion, and public engagement, that ARS Foundation was established — in Geneva, home to a multilateralism that is today increasingly under strain. From my own perspective, I felt it was necessary to contribute a structure dedicated to supporting contemporary creation, accompanying artists, and fostering a solid and sustainable cultural ecosystem.

ARS Foundation embodies this commitment: to act with rigour, vision, and a spirit of service, promoting art as a common good and as a legacy.

I believe the next twenty years will be decisive. We are living through a change of era. What truly matters are proposals for the future: projects, new stages, new beginnings. I have come to understand that this phase of life should not be about closing down, but about consciously choosing how to keep building: “if you do not know where you are going, you will never arrive.”

ARS Foundation is, for me, a way of reaffirming that path: continuing forward with intention, with responsibility, and with the conviction that art and beauty remain indispensable.