About us
Founded in 1980 to accompany the creation of the Orsay Museum, the Société des Amis des Musées d’Orsay et de l’Orangerie, or SAMO (‘Society of Friends of the Orsay and Orangerie Museums’) is an association governed by the 1901 law and recognized as a public utility since 2007. It is authorized to receive donations and other gifts and is therefore entitled to tax reductions.
years alongside the
Orsay and Orangerie Museums
works acquired
for the museums
patrons
activities per year
for our members
Our commitments
- Support the acquisitions of the Orsay and Orangerie Museums
- Reunite passionate individuals during exclusive visits and events
- Raise funds through our prestigious annual Gala Dinner
Our values and objectives
- Continue contributing to the outreach of these two museums on a national and international scale
- Work to enrich the museum collections and thus contribute to transmitting knowledge and culture to future generations
- Bring together a network of individual and corporate sponsors (SMEs and small businesses)
Your support
Individuals and businesses, by joining or donating to our association, you allow us to pursue our missions and achieve our objectives for the future, in support of the Orsay and Orangerie Museums.
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“Being a member has a social dimension: we enjoy meeting each other at exhibition visits, trips, as well as our annual Gala Dinner. But it also means being a patron, generously providing financial support to museums and experiencing the joy of seeing one’s generosity transformed into works of art!”
President of the Société des Amis des Musées d’Orsay et de l’Orangerie
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Our story
“In late 1979, a certain number of collectors, art historians and supporters of French museums decided, in agreement with the President of the relevant Public Establishment, to combine their efforts to establish a new organization for the future of the Orsay Museum, a society of patrons.”
April 1, 1980
Creation of the Société des Amis du Musée d’Orsay. Ambassador Emmanuel de Margerie is named President, while the co-founders Count Edouard of Ribes and Louis-Antoine Prat are named Treasurer and General Secretary, respectively.
September 1980
The SAMO acquires its first piece, The Shadow Hand, by Charles Lacoste, an oil on canvas painting created in 1896. The SAMO receives its first in-kind donations this same year, such as Bust-Length Portrait of a Man, drawn by Adolph Menzel and offered by Otto Wertheimer, as well as The Door Handle by Hector Guimard, gifted by Bruno Foucart.
December 1, 1986
Opening of the Orsay Museum to the public
1990
The Count of Ribes, co-founder of the SAMO, is named President. A great patron of the arts, he allows for major works, reflecting the diversity of artistic creation in the second half of the 19th century, to enter the national collections.
©Bertrand Rindoff Petroff
2010
The Orangerie Museum joins the Orsay Museum as a single public establishment. The Société des Amis du Musée d’Orsay becomes the Société des Amis des Musées d’Orsay et de l’Orangerie.
2011
The Société des Amis’ first Gala Dinner, an event that will become a prestigious annual encounter and that will allow the SAMO to pursue its initiatives benefiting the Orsay and Orangerie Museums.
2013
Jean-Louis Milin is named President and succeeds the Count of Ribes.
“I have been passionate about the Orsay since its transformation into a museum, and I wanted to commit myself to further enhancing its influence.”
– Jean Louis Milin
2020
Creation of the Fondation des Amis pour le Rayonnement des Musées d’Orsay et de l’Orangerie under the auspices of the Fondation de France.
2021
First cocktail for the Young Patrons at the Orangerie Museum.
2023
10th edition of the Gala Dinner
Esplanade Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, 75007 Paris
01 40 49 48 34
amis@amis-musee-orsay.org
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