It was during a guided tour that Nathalie Bicais and representatives of l’association No Id took stock of this “ nice project to make Fort Napoleon a crossroads of Seynois cultural life », Underlines the mayor of La Seyne-sur-Mer.
The Toulouse association, which already organizes numerous events around art, was selected, following a call for expressions of interest, to highlight, animate and develop cultural and tourist potential of the famous Fort Napoléon, built in 1812.
The agreement for the provision of the place must be signed the first week of January 2025, for a period of twelve years. For its part, the association announces a opening April 21 and a start of programming straight away.
Bringing the public (back) to Fort Napoléon
While waiting for the official signature, No Id, in collaboration with Le Nez, a plastic arts association, also based in Toulon, is working on different ways of attracting or returning the public: artists and professionals, during the week, and the general public, from Friday to Sundaywith a maximum capacity of 800 people.
A challenge for this place away from the city center and for which Nathalie Bicais wishes to do “ walkways with the neighboring Tamaris villa ».
To do this, No Id, which has also launched a crowdfunding campaign on its site, plans a budget of 250,000 euros for the layout of different spaces and the purchase of material equipment. The City covers the costs related to water and electricity.
Fort Napoléon: what developments are planned?
Matthieu Priol, the founder and artistic director of No Id, evokes the creation “ a production workshop for the plastic arts, another for woodworking, a fab lab, a media lab, with an audiovisual recording studio. There will also be a music rehearsal studio, two exhibition rooms, a music store.recycling“… and even a bar/café and a restaurant/snack bar serving world cuisine, which will offer, why not, a Sunday brunch. All of this remains to be refined. »
So we’re talking here development of existing spaces rather than workwhich would be long and complex, given that the fort is classified as a Historic Monument.
Pour create, exhibit, participate in workshops, attend shows, have a drink or eat, participate in adult or children’s workshops : everyone will have their reasons to come and enjoy a Fort Napoleon like we’ve never seen before!
