MUSEUM OPENINGS
Bordeaux Center for Wine and Civilizations
Bordeaux (Aquitaine)
Opening: 2016
www.citedescivilisationsduvin.com
With the goal of promoting a better understanding of the challenges facing the wine industry, this interdisciplinary center invokes history, geography, the life sciences, ethnography, literature, philosophy and the arts.
The Doubt Foundation
Blois (Loire Valley)
Opened: 2013
www.fondationdudoute.fr
The "doubt house" displays over 300 works by 40 major artists of Fluxus, an artistic movement of the 1960s and 1970s that carries on the anti-commercial aesthetic of Futurism and Dadaism. French artist Ben (Benjamin Vautier) opened the Foundation on the site of the art school, conservatory and Object Museum of the city of Blois as "neither a museum nor an art center, but an original space where the Fluxus spirit rules," a space for reflection about art.
The Regional Fund for Contemporary Art in the Center Region (FRAC Centre)
Orléans (Loire Valley)
Opened: September 2013
www.frac-centre.fr
In its new Orléans location – one in tune with its mission to share contemporary art and architecture – FRAC Centre is now also known as The Turbulences. Its re-opening has accompanied the 9th ArchiLab, called Naturalizing Architecture, an international architecture event through March 30, as well as some 30 events associated with the city of Orléans and the surrounding region.
Soulages Museum
Rodez (Midi-Pyrénées)
Opening: May 2014
www.musee-soulages.grand-rodez.com
Dedicated to Pierre Soulages, this museum is located in the acclaimed painter's hometown. Nearly 500 works worth approximately €40 million will be on display, featuring many of the artist's early works.
Montréal-du-Gers Fossil Site: the Origin Road
Montréal-du-Gers (Midi-Pyrénées)
Opened: July 2013
www.museum.toulouse.fr
Discovered by chance in 1987, this site at Montréal-du-Gers is the largest fossil collection found in France in the 20th century. It features more than 90 species, four of which were previously unknown. The site, which dates back some 17 million years, is one of Europe's major fossil sites. It opened to the public in July 2013 following building work designed both to open the site to visitors and to improve the conditions of the archaeologists working on the dig there. The Montréal-du-Gers site is one of the destinations on the Origin Road, a joint European project designed to encourage scientific tourism on both sides of the Pyrenees. The six sites along the route give visitors the opportunity to explore their origins (the origins of the universe, mankind, the Pyrenees and more…).
Fondation Jérôme Seydoux – Pathé
Paris
Opening: Spring 2014
fondation-jeromeseydoux-pathe.com
Housing a screening room, two exhibition floors, a research department, this center dedicated to silent film will open in spring 2014.
Château de Nègrepelisse
Nègrepelisse (Midi-Pyrénées)
Opening: June 2014
www.la-cuisine.fr
The town of Nègrepelisse has decided to turn its ancient castle which dates from the 13th century into the home of 'La Cuisine' Centre for Art and Design, due to open in June 2014. Following an architectural competition, RCR, the prestigious Catalan architects' firm selected to design the Musée Soulages in Rodez, was chosen to create the building, which combines the remains of the old castle with a new building featuring contemporary lines and materials. This singular and innovative centre is all set to pursue with relish its own exploration of contemporary artistic creation. 'La Cuisine' uses its food-themed approach to question the conventions and customs of eating.
Parc Aéroscopia
Blagnac (Midi-Pyrénées)
Opening: End of 2014
www.aeroscopia-blagnac.fr
Aéroscopia is an aeronautics, technology and science centre due to open in the Toulouse suburb of Blagnac in the second half of 2014. Designed to be an animated and lively visitor attraction, it was only natural that this fascinating centre devoted to the area's rich and inestimable heritage should be built in a city closely connected with the history of the worldwide aeronautics industry. To educate as broad a public as possible about the industry's know-how, technologies and skills: this is the aim of the visitor experience, based on four 'icons' of the history of aeronautics – the Caravelle, Concorde, the Super Guppy and the Airbus A300B – plus more than 30 other historic aircraft. Aéroscopia will also offer a full cultural program of exhibitions, events, festivals and educational initiatives.
Fondation Louis Vuitton
Paris
Spring 2014
www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr
Dedicated to contemporary art, this space will open its doors in spring of 2014. This extraordinary space was conceived by architect Frank Gehry as a vessel whose sails soar amidst the trees of the Bois de Boulogne.
Philharmonie de Paris
Paris
Opening: Early 2015
www.philharmoniedeparis.com/en
A major new music complex in the Parc de la Villette, this venture includes a 2,400 seat concert hall, foyers and rehearsal rooms, an educational wing, exhibition spaces, a café, and a restaurant. Designed principally to host major symphony orchestras – with the Orchestre de Paris as the resident orchestra – the Philharmonie de Paris will also promote other forms of musical expression such as jazz and world music.
Madoura Pottery Workshop
Vallauris Golfe Juan (Riviera)
Opened: July 2013
www.vallauris.fr
The Madoura pottery workshop is a unique and exceptional place. Starting in 1946, Pablo Picasso and, in his wake, a number of other artists like Marc Chagall, Victor Brauner and Henri Matisse, were welcomed here by its owners, Suzanne and Georges Ramié. The artists' and hosts' collective ceramic output forever changed the history of art, pottery and the city, sometimes called the town of clay. Villauris is now also the city of Picasso, thanks to its National Picasso Museum "War and Peace," and large bronze "Man with a Sheep" sculpture by Picasso located in front of the church.
Confluences Museum
Lyon (Rhône-Alpes)
Opening: December 2014
www.museedesconfluences.fr
Within the Quartier de la Confluence urban development and reclamation project, which transformed the traditionally industrial tip of the city’s southern peninsula into green space, Lyon will open the Musée des Confluence in December 2014. Dedicated to science, art and society, the museum will feature eight rooms (four permanent exhibition areas and four temporary exhibition areas) with different circulating exhibitions covering topics such as: genetic modification, exchange and innovation, origins of life, biodiversity, global-warming, geopolitics and social behavior.
MUSEUM RENOVATIONS
Fine Arts Museum of Dijon
Dijon (Burgundy)
Partially opened: September 2013
mba.dijon.fr
Renovation work on Dijon's Musée des Beaux-Arts began in 2001 with goal of improving the display of art in a restored national monument (the former palace of the Dukes of Burgundy). Completion of phase one saw the unveiling of its refurbished and expanded Medieval and Renaissance rooms, featuring the tombs of the Dukes of Burgundy. Parts of the museum remain open and free of charge for the duration of the construction, due to be finalized in 2019.
Fine Arts Museum of Bordeaux
Bordeaux (Aquitaine)
Opened: December 2013
www.musba-bordeaux.fr
After four years under renovation, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, one of the region's most important cultural institutions, is now completely open to the public, including the northern wing, where the layout, lighting and signage have been improved. More than 350 works of art, many of them famous, are once again on display, newly contextualized by historical panels, explanatory labels and room descriptions translated in English and Spanish. Entry to the permanent collection is free of charge.
Palais Galliera
Paris
Opened: September 2013
www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr
This museum of fashion and fashion history recently reopened in September 2013 after being closed for four years due to extensive renovations.
Picasso Museum
Paris
Opening: June 2014
Home to the world’s largest collection of works by Pablo Picasso, the building has been closed because of renovations for the last four years. Tripling the amount of public space, the museum will reopen in June 2014.
www.museepicassoparis.fr
Vincent van Gogh Foundation
Arles (Provence-Alps-Cote d'Azur)
Opening: April 2014
www.fondation-vincentvangogh-arles.org
The Vincent van Gogh Foundation will soon open its doors in a new venue: the 15th-century Hotel Léauteaud of Donines. A thousand square meters of exhibition space divided across two floors will host the work of Van Gogh, as well as installations by contemporary artists in tribute to the Dutch master. The terrace on the top floor takes in a panoramic view of the town and its environs.
Renoir Museum (Domaine des Collettes)
Cagnes-sur-Mer (Riviera)
Opened: July 2013
www.cagnes-tourisme.com
Offering a breathtaking view down the Cape of Antibes, the Renoir Museum is located in the heart of a beautiful estate planted with olive and citrus trees. This was the retreat and final address of painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, who moved here in an attempt to improve his arthritis. After 18 months of renovation, the museum is a record of Renoir's last 12 years of life, complete with paintings, sculptures, his studio and furniture.
