Daphné Kauffmann: interview with the founder of Ateliers 62

Ex-journalist, musician, novelist… Your career path is atypical. How was the Ateliers 62 project born?

My journey is bathed in art. I was born in Paris but I have dual Greek nationality through my mother, who was an archaeologist at the Louvre. I attended privileged schools (the Alsacian School, the Victor-Duruy high school), and I loved the school! It was also important to my mother that we do activities, sporting or artistic, that nourish us outside of school. So I have practiced classical dance for years, took drawing and painting lessons at the Ateliers du Carrousel and started playing guitar while writing poems and songs.

After studying literature and art history, I was sure I was going to be a rockstar (laughs)! So I took my amp and my guitar and went to Londonwhere I pursued music and became a correspondent for The World. Back in Paris, I continued my career as a journalist and musicianwithout succeeding in breaking through. After a lot of soul-searching, I wrote a first novel and two others followed. This writing work allowed me to obtain a scholarship and spend several months in residence on the island of Ithaca. This is where I nourished this project. When I got home, I wanted to do something that makes sense and helps.

In 2019, you founded Ateliers 62.

When I returned to Paris, I became a teacher in somewhat atypical establishments, which welcomed high-potential or autistic children. After a period of overwork, I wanted to share what I knew how to do. I visited a premises at 62 rue de la Tombe-Issoire (14^e arrondissement of Paris), which became “L’Atelier 62” (at the time in the singular). I opened this place in partnership with a private school where I developed a “art-studies” course. The young people therefore went to school in the morning then came to the workshop to do a minimum of six hours of artistic practice – music, singing, etc. What was very innovative was to also offer writing.