The Fondation Zinsou is the leading contemporary art institution in Benin. Founded in 2005 by Marie-Cecile Zinsou, a prominent figure in African cultural advocacy and the restitution debate, the foundation set out to do something that did not yet exist in Benin: create a dedicated space for contemporary African art.

The foundation's main gallery is in Cotonou, housed in a colonial building in the Haie Vive district. Temporary exhibitions rotate throughout the year, featuring artists from Benin and across the continent. The programme covers painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and video art.

In 2013, the foundation opened the Museum of Contemporary Art in Ouidah, the first museum of its kind in Benin. Housed in a heritage building, it provides a permanent space for the foundation's growing collection and for exhibitions by international contemporary artists.

Education is central to the foundation's mission. Workshops, guided tours, and outreach programmes bring contemporary art to schoolchildren and communities who would not otherwise have access. The foundation has been recognised internationally, including a young artists grant from the Japan Art Association's Praemium Imperiale.

For practical travel information on visiting Cotonou and its cultural venues, visit fidjrosse.com.