Maja Hoffmann is a Swiss-born contemporary art collector 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 long-standing family tradition of active philanthropy. In 2004, Maja Hoffmann founded the LUMA Foundation (Zurich) as a vehicle to express her on-going commitments. LUMA is involved in planning a groundbreaking cultural site in Europe, the Parc des Ateliers in Arles (France) – an experimental site dedicated to the production of exhibitions, art and ideas and is actively supporting several institutions and initiatives around the world. As part of the newly re-opened Löwenbräukunst in Zurich, LUMA Westbau / POOL etc will implement international projects, with POOL initiating an exchange of views on issues of collecting and curating through a curatorial scholarship programme involving a network of collectors and mentors from different institutions.