Created on the initiative of Astrid Ullens de Schooten Whettnall, the A Foundation opened its doors in Brussels in 2012. Recognised as a public-interest institution, it is located in a former industrial district now largely invested by artists and cultural actors. The Foundation positions itself as a dynamic platform entirely dedicated to the photographic image.
The A Foundation houses an exceptional collection built by its founder since the 1990s. Mainly composed of documentary photography, this collection examines the social, political and environmental realities of our time. Often presented in small formats that encourage close looking, the works offer powerful and committed visual testimonies that invite reflection and debate. Many of the artists represented are now considered key figures in contemporary photography.
The A Foundation brings this collection to life through a thoughtful exhibition programme. Each year it presents two major exhibitions: – A group exhibition, bringing together multiple artistic voices — either drawn from the collection or invited for the occasion, – And a monographic exhibition offering an in-depth look at the work of a single photographer. These annual events are complemented by a dedicated month for students from photography schools, offering young artists the opportunity to experience exhibiting their work and to engage with the Foundation’s public.
The A Foundation is strongly committed to transmission and education : guided tours, educational resources for both young people and adults, creative workshops for children, as well as readings and artist talks accompany each exhibition. Special attention is given to welcoming school groups, who are at the heart of the Foundation’s social mission.
Occasionally acting as a publisher, the A Foundation produces books that expand on or extend certain exhibitions or pivotal moments in its history. Recent publications include Regards de femmes (RM, 2022) and SAGA. A Photographic Journey (Ludion, 2024), a comprehensive presentation of the collection.
The A Foundation regularly collaborates with other institutions, both in Belgium and internationally. It was invited to Paris Photo in 2019 with the Fragments exhibition at the Grand Palais, and was the guest of honour at the Rencontres de la Photographie in Arles in 2024 with When Images Learn to Speak, curated by Urs Stahel and presented at the Mécanique Générale of the LUMA Foundation. More recently, the collection of the A Foundation was exhibited at the Musée de la Photographie in Charleroi (October 2025 to January 2026) as part of a major retrospective entitled Histoires en séries.
