Culture

Most entities in the group are involved in multiple projects to support culture, art, music, theater and sports.

In Belgium, Dexia Bank supports cultural events for its employees as well as its customers. Since October 1, 2002, a new comprehensive Internet site called Culture via Dexia has been accessible on Dexia's Web site at www.dexia.be. Dexia Bank publishes news of cultural events that have been produced and sponsored by the bank.

In France, Dexia Crédit Local has been the leading private sponsor of the Festival d'Avignon since 1983. Its objective is to promote mainly European creation in the fields of theater and dance. Since 1997, Dexia Éditions and the Fondation Dexia Crédit Local contribute to the publication of two collections of books in partnership with the Conservatoire du littoral, a public-sector entity that protects endangered natural sites through real estate restrictions.

Dexia supports the Académie du Spectacle Equestre in the Grandes Ecuries de Versailles. This equestrian academy, located in the former stables of the chateau of Versailles, was officially opened in February 2003. Directed by Bartabas, it combines the teaching of equestrian art with other artistic practices (drawing, music, singing, dance, etc.) in a magnificent historical setting. Dexia thus sponsors the performing arts, creation, France's national heritage and training programs for young people.

In Luxembourg, several events were organized in Parc Heintz and at the Galerie l'Indépendance: at the beginning of 2002, an exhibition of bronze sculpture and drawings by the Belgian sculptor Olivier Strebelle, a presentation of works by the English artist David Nash, and Heintz's Wonderland, an exhibition of sculpture and installations by 20 nationally and internationally known contemporary artists.