What about the Théâtre de l’Artistique, now a multidisciplinary center, blending artists, speakers, and the general public? Christian Estrosi, the Mayor of Nice, provides us with the answer.
In May 2016, Christian Estrosi announced the creation in the city of an actor training center intended for beginners or amateurs of all ages and a troupe led by the duo Francis Huster and Steve Suissa.
This project was supposed to be established in place of the Theatre of Photography and Image, which was moved to the former Urban Planning Forum’s site, and later relocated next to the Nucera Library, and then to 109/SangNeuf.
Debates arose, accompanied by a petition. Then silence… Now, we’re told that the conditions to realize this project were not met.
This is the phrase used in diplomatic language when one wants to conceal a failure.
But what to do with a space right in the city center, with a marked style?
The answer has finally come…
“It is about bringing a renewal to this theater with a long history as a cultural venue,” stated the Mayor of Nice, recalling that “since 1895, the Théâtre de l’Artistique has served as a venue for meetings, a museum, and an art gallery with exhibitions, but also performances.”
The new Théâtre de l’Artistique will be a new kind of multidisciplinary cultural venue, open to the general public as well as professionals, in collaboration with the MAMAC, the Matisse Museum, and the Photography Museum, and in partnership with Daniel Benoin, former director of the TNN, now director of Théâtre Anthea in Antibes.
This new programming will offer Lecture-Course cycles for all levels, taught by Art and Heritage professionals, academics, and prestigious guests.
Two sessions per year (winter/spring) with about a dozen thematic meetings will focus on art and its history, particularly that of the 20th century in connection with the Ferrero Donation collection.
For the moment, these are just the headlines; we will see more clearly when the programming is known.
Given the precedent (wouldn’t it have been better to check the feasibility of the project before abruptly changing everything and ending up with nothing in hand?), it’s better to proceed cautiously.
