Maja Hoffmann

Maja Hoffmann is an international thought leader on cross-disciplinary practices between art, environment, human rights, and education as tools for world transition. For 30 years, she has been engaged in the support of innovative projects, which include art production, publications, film, and social and environmental responsibilities. She was inspired in her mission through a longstanding family tradition of active philanthropy.

She is committed to the preservation of the environment and its natural resources through her work with MAVA Foundation and Tour du Valat, and to protecting individual rights through Human Rights Watch.

In 2002, Maja Hoffmann established the Michelin-starred organic restaurant la Chassagnette located in the Camarge on the grounds of her organic farm that also acts as a buffer zone for the national Camargue and private Tour du Valat Natural Reserves.

In 2004, Maja Hoffmann founded the Luma Foundation (Zurich) as a vehicle to express her ongoing commitments. Luma is involved in planning a ground-breaking cultural site in Europe, the Parc des Ateliers in Arles (France) — an experimental site, dedicated to the production of exhibitions, art and ideas and which is hosting the International Festival of Photography les Rencontres d’Arles. Maya has served as a member of the board of the festival since 2002.

She is actively supporting several institutions and initiatives around the world.

In London, Maja is currently on the board of the Serpentines Galleries. She has been a Tate trustee, chairing its International Council from 2009 until 2016 and helped in the creation of Tate Modern 2. She launched Luma Westbau in Zurich, is president of Kunsthalle Zurich Foundation and vice president of Basel’s Emanuel Hoffmann-Foundation. She also is the president of Swiss Institute (SI) and sits on the boards of New Museum of Contemporary Art and Bard College, as well as the Center for Curatorial Studies (CCS Bard) in New York.