FAR – Arts Center
Scenes from an inauguration (26.3.10)
(Photo : Paco Salamander)
They’re home, and finally settling in
Graulhet’s visual artists are finally home. Classes have begun (see schedules here). Although the news isn’t official yet, the Mayor and the President of FAR have scheduled the official inauguration for March 26th. TBC (to be confirmed).
The FAR and urban renewal in Graulhet
On January 25th 2010, less than eight months after its incorporation, the Artists’ Federation was elected by local citizens to represent all of the residents’ associations in Graulhet’s new municipal project for social and urban renewal. Of particular importance here is the recognition thus given to the arts as a crucial element – both as a tool of self-discovery and self-expression, and as one of the town’s focal points for future growth and development. Details here.
A brief update :
16.1.10 – Tiling : the Exhibition Hall is now done. Next : the Classroom
28.12.09 – Walls and Ceilings Painted… on to the floor tiles
16.12.09 – Getting there…
After the usual delays related to contractors taking on more work than they can reasonably complete on schedule, the covered market should now be ready in time for Graulhet’s Christmas Market, beginning of December. The organizers are busy planning a major exhibition cum housewarming, while maintaining both the recruitment and the funding drives. Days are long and tempers sometimes a bit frayed but the renewed (and very public) endorsements of the project by City Hall are a great incentive to push on.
(Design : Olivier Pesquié)
Since THE FAR NOW HAS A BLOG (although in French only for the time being), updates may remain sketchy on this page but every effort will be made to add some photos of the December opening.
A bit of history
As a project, the FAR (Fédération des Artistes de la Région Graulhétoise) started as a glimmer in the eye of portrait painter Robert Bourges around January 2009. At first, it centered around this tiny Place in France’s ancient leather capital, Graulhet – the idea being to revitalize a part of the town now fallen on hard times with the delocalization of most of the town’s tanneries.
Robert Bourges saw the tiny Place Val d’Amour with its fourteenth century structures as a lovely location for a tiny arts center and outdoors exhibition and concert venue.
When approached, City Hall proved enthusiastic. Authorities were looking for a viable project and this one fit the bill. Authorization was rapidly secured for the use of the space. Everything was moving forward nicely, except for one thing : more and more visual artists in the wider Graulhet area expressed interest in the project. Clearly, visitors wouldn’t be able to step around the easels, let alone enter the minuscule exhibition space if all those artists were to be accommodated.
After formerly incorporating the Fédération, Robert Bourges investigated other possible locations for the Arts Center. He and municipal leaders soon agreed the town’s former covered market offered the best combination of features.
Presently an open space located under the town’s Auditorium, the covered market can easily accommodate both studio, teaching and exhibition spaces, and serve as a focal point for multidisciplinary artistic events.
Work on upgrading the facility began on June 8 2009. Given that Graulhet is a town in Southwestern France where things move at a fairly relaxed pace, the speed with which City Hall has responded is a clear indication of the town’s high level of interest in this project.
Charming Place Val d’Amour is not forgotten. The FAR has kept its options on the space for an Artist-in-Residence project, presently under discussion with other partners in and around Graulhet.
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June 23 2009 – The final plans and specifications for the Arts Center have now been approved by City Hall and full funding of the renovations is now assured, partly through a grant from the European Union.
The space should be fully operational in early Fall. In the meantime, artists will begin holding outdoor exhibitions on the small place Val d’Amour.
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June 30 – It’s now official – the FAR also has the use of this venue. Scheduling of activities on Place Val d’Amour to be announced shortly.
