Bienvenue à La Criée

For Bienvenue à La Criée, the art centre has commissioned mural art from 14 artists. All of them are exhibiting at La Criée for the first time, although the art centre has already worked with many of them on residencies, publications and other projects. Collaborations and adventures that have developed elsewhere are being presented within the walls of La Criée. As always, it is keen to explore new horizons and has also invited artists it has never worked with before.

The artists are invited to create a work inspired by the history of the art centre, be it real or fictional, past or future.
The works are presented using an innovative system of mobile panels. This system allows each artist to curate their own exhibition, opening up the possibility of a multitude of different configurations.

In addition, La Criée is being transformed into a place for friends to congregate. Visitors are invited to come and read, listen, and chat in their own time. Designed in collaboration with the designer Guénolé Jezequel, with a focus on simplicity and reconfiguration, a series of comfortable and inviting seating areas fill the space: visitors can listen to stories about La Criée told by the artists, partners and visitors it has hosted, as well as share their own. Visitors can also browse through the books published by La Criée and that have inspired its programming, whilst relaxing on sofas or on a rug.

La Criée has devised Rejouer La Criée, a board game that sheds light on its rich history and the many exhibitions and artworks produced since 1986. Developed in collaboration with the Rennes-based artists’ collective comprising Léa Bénétou, Fanny Martel and Yann Baïzid, Rejouer La Criée is both a fun educational tool and an artistic object. It allows everyone, young and old alike, to create their own miniature exhibition and discover 40 years of art and creativity.

On top of all that, La Criée is doubling as a festival venue. As the furniture composing Bienvenue à La Criée is mobile and easily rearranged, the space can be reconfigured to host a programme of events that the art centre is keen to develop in partnership with like-minded venues, such as the Les Tombées de la nuit festival, the (Under)ground festival (Fair-e collective/CCRNB) and the Édulab Pasteur.

A weekend of festivities to mark the opening, from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 June, will kick off the programme of events with music and bingo.

Rounding off this anniversary programme is a packed schedule of activities – ranging from storytelling and food-tasting to fortune-telling – as well as talks and workshops.

Bienvenue à La Criée offers visitors the chance to discover the many facets of the art centre: a place of discovery and sharing, which, throughout the year, stages exhibitions both within and outside its walls, organises events, publishes books and supports artists in the creation of new works, their research and their experimentation.

A warm welcome to you all!