The Cité internationale des arts is an
artist-in-residence
Artist-in-residence, or artist residencies, encompass a wide spectrum of artistic programs which involve a collaboration between artists and hosting organisations, institutions, or communities. They are programs which provide artists with space a ...
building complex which accommodates artists of all specialities and nationalities in Paris. It comprises two sites, one located in
the Marais and the other in
Montmartre
Montmartre ( , ) is a large hill in Paris's northern 18th arrondissement. It is high and gives its name to the surrounding district, part of the Right Bank. The historic district established by the City of Paris in 1995 is bordered by Rue C ...
. Approximately 1200 artists, choreographers, musicians, writers and designers from around the world live and work in the Cité internationale des arts every year. Residencies are generally a year long.
History and description

The ''Cité internationale des arts'' was a Franco-Scandinavian idea proposed by the Finnish artist
Eero Snellman
Eero Juhani Snellman (June 8, 1890 in Helsinki – November 7, 1951 in Helsinki) was Finnish artist. He co-designed the Flag of Finland with Bruno Tuukkanen.
Snellman studied art in Helsinki in 1908–1910 and continued his studies in France, ...
(1890-1951) during a speech at the 1937 ''
''. It was only after the Second World War that this idea was taken up by Mr. and Mrs. Félix Brunau and became a real project. It took the form of an association created in 1947 which benefited from the support of the
Ministry of Culture and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The enti ...
as well as the
Academy of Fine Arts and the
City of Paris. It had its first headquarters at the Ministry of Culture on
rue de Valois before moving to 18 rue de l'Hôtel de Ville in the
4th arrondissement, the City of Paris having granted an
emphyteutic lease for the construction of a set of live-work spaces.
Opened 1956, Inaugurated in 1965, the ''Cité internationale des arts'' offers residency workshops known as "living workshops" (french: ateliers-logements) designed for work and housing, located at two main sites. One, located in
the Marais (rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville opposite
île Saint-Louis) includes the first building from 1965 as well as buildings whose renovation was completed in 1995, while the second is located in
Montmartre
Montmartre ( , ) is a large hill in Paris's northern 18th arrondissement. It is high and gives its name to the surrounding district, part of the Right Bank. The historic district established by the City of Paris in 1995 is bordered by Rue C ...
, at 16 rue Girardon.
The Marais location site was the work of architects
Paul Tournon,
Ngo Viet Thu and Olivier-Clément Cacoub.
Cultural programmes
For nearly half a century, the Brunaus ran and developed the ''Cité internationale des arts''. By establishing a cultural programme and privatising its spaces (auditorium, gallery), this structure can host events organised either with the artists in residence, or partner and non-partner structures of the Foundation. The ''Cité internationale des arts'' also has collective workshops for
visual art
The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual art, and textile ar ...
ists and rehearsal studios for musicians. Its residency programs are aimed at French and foreign artists who wish to work in Paris. The Foundation has accommodated more than 15,000 artists since its foundation.
La ''Cité internationale des arts''
on Usagedumonde21.fr
References
External links
on Commons
Official website
{{Authority control
Arts in Paris
Arts centres in France
Buildings and structures in the 4th arrondissement of Paris
Buildings and structures completed in 1965
1965 establishments in France
Arts foundations based in Europe