La Condition Publique

Founded in 2004, “la Condition Publique” as a public cultural centre implanted in a former industrial site is an experimental project, a place for producing and promoting innovative solutions in culture with the following commitments: creating a cluster of actors in social and cultural innovation, searching for economically sustainable projects, promoting cultural diversity, developing projects with the inhabitants. La Condition Publique is an incubator for start-ups in the cultural sector (design, photographs, architects, labels…), shows performing arts, exhibitions, organizes artistes residencies, seminars, participative projects, youth projects. La Condition Publique is located in a district with huge social problems, categorized as "priority" by the french state, with a high rate of unemployment and poverty (+ 10% compared to the national average). Co-design of cultural projects with multiples partners: the inhabitants living in the neighbourhood, the social centres, designers, enterprises, associations, the local authorities, … and in this way promotion of participatory democracy in a district with huge social problems. Valorisation of industrial heritage and promotion of contemporary creation: in order to create a large cultural ecosystem, including economic, social and environmental aspects. This cultural ecosystem provides the possibility to everyone at every age to develop his expressive capacities and to participate to the community project. Thinking about public space as cultural space. The projects of “la Condition Publique” aim to invest the public space, to transform it, to give access to it, to share it with all the inhabitants.