Maison des Métallos

Anna Bromwich writing for VINGT paris, photo courtesy of G@ttoGiallo

Maison des Métallos is perhaps best described as a cultural venue with a social conscience. It’s various spaces stage exhibitions, theatre and concerts with strong political themes and host creative workshops for young and old alike. The Maison also holds public debates, philosophy lectures and collaborative events with local associations. It also supports creative and research projects which establish links with the local community.

This Brechtian mixture of the cultural used for social purpose befits a building which started life during the industrial revolution as the first factory to manufacture brass musical instruments. In 1936 it became the headquarters of the steelworkers union, thus inaugurating its current name. Until 1997, when the Mairie de Paris bought it, Maison des Métallos ran syndicate meetings, trade workshops for the disabled and unemployed and a clinic in much the same community spirit as it's contemporary incarnation.

The project of creating this hybrid venue was handed to Gérard Paquet, Vincent Brossy and the organisation Planete Emergences who were to work together to make the space relevant and they have succeeded in doing so these last two years.

Brossy took the 19th century industrial building into a new era, carving a 300 seat auditorium, a large rehearsal space under glass, audio and visual studios into the factory floors. In the old entrance hall and the mezzanine café multi-coloured sheets of glass and fluorescent lights mingle with original details such as the arabesques in the iron structure.

Planete Emergences’ program addresses contemporary social and cultural issues. It almost sees itself as a new movement exploring ways of living and thinking differently about a wide range of topics: environment, multiculturalism, body and health, the relationship between the artist and the social field. The Maison des Métallos is more than just a venue - rather, it is a complex of relationships between artists, community partners and the local residents.  It was these residents who fought for the Mairie to buy this building before the developers in order not to lose what is now an integral part of their local history. Today this socio-cultural centre which boasts revolutionary flair is a testament to that history. The current program at Maison des Métallos forms part of the city-wide Mois de la Turquie.

Maison des Métallos

94 Rue Jean Pierre Timbaud

Paris 11

Comments

[G@ttoGiallo]

Hey, greetings from G@tto !

[amelie]

Sublime spectacle en ce moment à la maison des métallos sur Anna Politkovskaia

http://www.laboiteasorties.com/2010/04/appel-a-la-lutte-au-nom-d%e2%80%99anna-politkovskaia-critique-anna-politkovskaia-non-reeducable/