First slaughterhouses transformed into industrial wasteland, and now a “third place”. Since 2008, 109, the center of contemporary cultures east of Nice, has seen the emergence of artists’ workshops, theater companies, exhibitions but “has never really reached its potential”, affirms the socialist Patrick. German, former city councilor.
It is to respond to this development issue that the city of Nice has decided to change its legal status. Thus, the 109 will have “more freedom to deploy and take advantage of the magical space it has,” says Robert Roux, deputy mayor, delegate for culture. From the end of the year, it will be a cooperative society of collective interest [Scic] who will be in charge and no longer the municipal management ”. According to the elected official, thanks to this transformation, the pole of contemporary cultures will be able to accommodate on its 18,000 m2 surface, “urban arts, create performance halls, with new residents and permanently”. “It will be a shared place of cross-fertilization of the arts,” he summarizes.
“We will have everything”
The Gobelins, the Villa Arson, the Cirm (the national center for musical creation) but also the street art collective, Whole Street or Panda Events, as well as a circus company, “everyone will be able to settle down and this time, we will have it all, ”enthuses Robert Roux. He adds: “The city of Nice has always had a particular cultural density. Now, it will have a separate, multidisciplinary place for all kinds of artistic creation. “
For Benoît Geli, founding director of Panda Events, who has already organized events in recent years at 109, this new promise is “the result of several years of work, which were necessary”. The ambition to have a hall with 400 seats all year round, “it’s extraordinary for the offer and the artists”. He develops: “Everything takes time. We believe a lot in this project, we are motivated. There was a lot going on at 109, there will be more. Nice needs it because it was missing a lot. Especially since we see this kind of places developing everywhere in Europe and they are meeting a real success. Together, we’ll get there. “
The former PS municipal councilor of Nice, he remains on his reservations. “This place has extraordinary potential and so far, I haven’t seen a project up to it yet. And it’s not a legal change that will change everything, it’s deeper. »Results in a few months!