Le Magasin CNAC in Grenoble is a renowned National Centre for Contemporary Art. Housed in a hall built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition, it is now a key artistic venue.
MAGASIN CNAC IS A PLACE FOR ARTISTIC PRACTICES AND EXHIBITIONS
The Magasin CNAC organises temporary contemporary art exhibitions. It works with artists from the creation of their works to the exhibitions in the Magasin.
Since it was created in 1986, Magasin CNAC has sought to be a mentor for artists and future professionals in contemporary art. The year after it opened, the art centre created the Ecole du Magasin (formerly known as Ateliers des Horizons). . It has also teamed with the Fabrique des Luddites, located in Chatte (40 minutes from Grenoble) to create a cultural third space.
FROM AN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING TO A NATIONAL CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART
The Magasin’s history dates back to the last century. The building was opened in 1900 at the Paris Universal Exhibition by the builder, Gustave Eiffel. The usine Bouchayer-Viallet, based in Grenoble, bought it to add to its construction activity. The Magasin then became an industrial building until the 1960s. The district where the factory was located is still marked by the history it left behind and bears the name Bouchayer-Viallet.
In the 1980s, Grenoble’s elected representatives took advantage of the decentralisation policy to bring art and culture to the city. The former industrial building was transformed into a National Centre for Contemporary Art.
To preserve its authenticity, and adopt an eco-friendly approach, the Magasin was transformed into a National Centre for Contemporary Art using materials that already existed on site. The huge 300m2 hall that houses the Magasin has been deconstructed into several organised spaces: exhibition rooms, meditation and art practice rooms (for adults and children), a reception and bookshop, and the huge original hall (with its impressive architecture). Magasin CNAC is a place for cultural exchanges, artistic life and the practice of contemporary art.
