Apr 4th, 2016, 10:07 PM

Explore the CENTQUATRE Cultural Mashup

By Yana Kotina
Image credit: Flickr/ Keith Haring
Discover a public institution and see all sorts of art and performances.

The CENTQUATRE is a unique public institution that is open to creative art experiments. The grandiose building, located at 104 rue d’Aubervilliers (19th arrondissement), holds a weekly program of various art, dance and theater performances. Moreover, there are frequent film screenings, conferences and different creative workshops. Visitors are welcome to meet the artists at 104's residence, see their working process and at times even get involved in projects. The center is interesting not only for creative young people, but for everyone. The CENTQUATRE is a perfect place to spend a Sunday afternoon with family, as it offers different activities for kids and events that engage people from diverse age categories all together and there are a few lovely restaurants and cafes.


Image credit: CENTQUATRE

The building occupies around 37,000 square meters, of which 25,000 square meters are dedicated to the exhibition space. Two screening rooms, workshops of the artists and a cozy terrace with a garden are within the complex. to explore and enjoy. Interestingly, the building itself was constructed in the 19th century and functioned as a funeral service. However, in 2003, Marie de Paris, decided to reconstruct and renovate the space in order to develop the cultural center. Thus, in October 2008, The CENTQUATRE was inaugurated by the mayor as an art institution and opened its doors to the public everyday of the week except Mondays. Despite the center's dynamic activity, there is always enough space to everyone, as the new design allows to admit around 5000 visitors at once - quite a unique center for Parisian standards. 


Image credit: Artelogical

The CENTQUATRE unifies entertainment and creation, education and enjoyment. Apart from artistic studios and performances, there is a bookshop and a book exchange corner, antiquaries and a bio food market every Saturday. People come to rencontrer social and cultural exchange with artists, writers and everyone who visits the place.

Such versatile concept of the center makes the CENTQUATRE ​being a part of European art network of similar projects, such as RadialSyste V in Berlin, Zone Attive in Rome and Matadero Madrid in Madrid. 


Image credit: CENTQUATRE

The CENTQUATRE is an absolutely must visit place to encounter the current waves of art creativity in Paris. In terms of culture, among the classics such as the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay, and even more modern and contemporary collections of Centre Pompidou and Palais de Tokyo, the CENTQUATRE would stand for a public institution of an emerging and aspiring artists who reflect on a modern day.