News of the MCB: towards a "MCB2"
For several years, the reorganization of the MCB has emerged as a necessity due to the development of the activities of the national scene and the evolution of the practices of live performance. Initially, the partners opted for the restructuring/renovation of the existing building before the choice of a new construction was made.
RESTRUCTURING DEEMED TOO LONG AND COMPLEX
The initial restructuring project faced three major constraints:
- the status of the House of Culture as a historical monument and its location on the outskirts of the cathedral;
- the obligations of accessibility and security to which any establishment hosting the public is subject;
- the discovery of Gallo-Roman baths, in February 2012, during archaeological excavations on the site of the Maison de la culture.
This is why, faced with these constraints and after consultation between the various public partners and the Minister of Culture and Communication, it was decided to abandon the restructuring project deemed too long (the House of Culture is closed to the public since 2009) and too expensive to build a new building between Place Séraucourt and Rue Jean-Bouin.
THE CHOICE OF A NEW CONSTRUCTION
The abandonment of the historic site of the House of Culture, dear to the heart of the Berruyers, was not without provoking many reactions and oppositions that delayed the start of the project. The main point of contention concerned the necessary felling of more than 80 trees on the slopes of Séraucourt.
The difficulties now seem to be resolved. On 18 May, the various financial partners of the future Maison de la culture agreed on the timing and financing of the operation. The laying of the foundation stone should take place in early 2018 for delivery in spring 2020.
The project includes two 700 and 200-seat theatres, two movie theatres, a rehearsal room and a restaurant
FORECAST SCHEDULE
> 2016
May: Order of service for resumption of studies.
End of July: finalization of final pre-project (ODA)
September: filing of building permit (PC)
October: commitment of appropriations by the DRAC on the basis of a dossier including: ODA, deliberation, deposit of the CP.
October: deforestation and archaeological excavations (6 to 8 months). The possibility of phasing (in autumn and spring) archaeological excavations according to the weather will be studied, as winter is not suitable for archaeological interventions.
> 2017
May: Completion of the PRO (Project) and DCE (Business Consultation File) studies. The CRP and WFD consist of a detailed description of the project for consultation with companies
June: Launch of business consultations
> End 2017 / beginning 2018 :
Work begins for 29 months.
> September 2021 : inauguration
The new house of culture offers 6 rooms: 1 of 700 seats, 1 of 200 seats (retractable and removable bleachers), 1 rehearsal room, 1 animation-mediation room of 100 m², 2 cinema rooms + 1 independent restaurant.
1% artistic
The inauguration of the first House of Culture in 1964 was the occasion to install one of the most famous Stabile of the sculptor Alexandre Calder, now moved in the courtyard of the Estève Museum.
For this new House of Culture, the artist Olivier Leroi was selected. The project consists in the installation of three cast aluminum castings of three animals emblematic of the forest of Sologne on the roof of the three monuments that surround the Place Séraucourt: the old and new house of Culture and the water tower. In parallel to this installation, a program entitled «the associated forest» ensures that each year, for a month, part of the programming of the Maison de la Culture takes place in a forest near Bourges, to raise awareness of biodiversity and the problem of climate transition.
TOTAL COST (excluding tax): €32.65 million
Funding:
State/ Ministry of Culture/ DRAC Centre-Val de Loire: €6 million (18%)
State/ Ministry of Culture/ National Fund for Preventive Archaeology: 48 499 €
Centre-Val de Loire region: €7.353 million (22%)
Cher department: €2.7 million (8%)
CA Bourges + €6.039 million (19%)
City of Bourges: €9.859 million (30%)
Corporate philanthropy: €650,000 (2%)
INSTITUTIONAL OPERATING BUDGET:
The annual budget of the institution is €3.5 million, Concerning the portion of the grants that are in 2021 of €3.2 million the State is the first funder of the institution (44%); the city (38%), Region (10%), Department (8%).
For the exit of the new venue, the funders have committed to increase their participation by €450 K over 4 years in order to cover the new costs associated with the new building, the deployment of the artistic project in accordance with the specifications of the National Stages (enrichment of the artistic project, expansion of the permanent team).
In this distribution, the State (Ministry of Culture) thus contributes an additional €202,000. This allocation has already taken place between 2020 and 2021.
This inauguration will last 3 weeks and will be spread throughout the city with festive and federative events offered to the public, with the participation of a hundred amateurs alongside the seven associated companies (including the Angels on the ceiling, the Théâtre des trois Parques and the Tana Quartet and composer Benoît Menut). The streets of the city as well as the city will also be the scene of this exceptional event where a yellow signage will be displayed. An exhibition of photos of the construction site of the MCB2 will be proposed in the city (Photographer Yannick Pirot).
RECOVERY PLAN:
Note that an exceptional €100,000 envelope was granted in 2021 for the inauguration. This Recovery Plan endowment has made it possible to expand the programming component generating activity for the arts sector.
2022 will be the first full year of operation in the new walls.
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT
SOURCES:
DRAC Centre-Val de Loire
Berry republican 19/05/2016 p. 6
MagCentre http://www.magcentre.fr/97495-bourges-la-nouvelle-maison-de-la-culture-a-trouve-son-financement/