A large cultural venue unique in France, dedicated to sound and image, planned in Brittany

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The ambition of the project leaders is to create, in Brest, a unique cultural place in France dedicated to sound and image. In a 1,500 m building²located at number 8 rue Victor-Hugo (where the Blackstore brand was previously installed) in the city center, a few steps from rue Jean-Jaurès. In which the Brittany film library, Length of waves, Cinéphare-Zoom Bretagne and Côte Ouest will be grouped together.

An investment of three million euros

The new place, transformed into spaces open to the public and work spaces for the four associationswill host amateur and professional practice workshops, a broadcast room (with a minimum of a hundred seats), a documentation center, a bar overlooking the street, training rooms and educational activities.

All for an investment (acquisition of the building by the Brittany cinema library and works) estimated at some three million euros. “Our teams, who form a collective of passionate women and men, have been working on it since this summer,” inform Marc Sénant, president of the Cinémathèque de Bretagne, and Gaïd Pitrou, director.

“This place we are going to co-construct together, will be a point of support to irrigate all of Brittany. We create the nest of all desiresa place that will give more visibility to the four associations, known and recognized in their field but which today do not have appropriate spaces to welcome the public, to implement their practices, both amateur and professional. »

Marc Sénand affirms:

It will be, for our associations, a new start in continuity and a new anchoring in the city and the Breton territory.

A collective force

The four associations will co-pilot the programmingin conjunction with their partners. “The challenge is to form a united and mutualist collective capable of inventing a model of mutual aid and economic development. The creation of this new place is also part of that of the territorial center The Archipelago of Stories implemented by Ty Films (Mellionnec), Pôl. e audiovisual Douarnenez-Cornouaille, Length of waves and the Cinémathèque de Bretagne. »

The Brittany Cinematheque announces that it plans to launch a festival on the theme of audiovisual archives. “We are at the beginning of the reflection,” confides Gaïd Pitrou. Which specifies that “the Length of Waves festival and the European short film festival in Brest (organized by Côte Ouest) will continue to take place at Quartz”.

“Our future place will bring together a collective force at the service of the individual projects of each of our entities, will allow pool energies, spaces, jobs (creations are envisaged.”

“A majestic place with a soul”

The project, supported by the Brittany Region, the City of Brest, the Finistère Departmental Council and the National Center for Cinema and Animated Images, has just reached an important milestone. “The architects’ consultation was published on December 10 on the Mégalis Bretagne website,” informs Marc Sénant. “Project management teams can submit their applications until January 7, 2025, 12 p.m. We look forward to meet the architects who will know how to invent alongside us this majestic place, which has a soul, that of the old Raub brand that it housed, which we want to preserve. We want an exemplary project in terms of reuse of materials. »

The choice of the architect should be made official at the end of February. After the various procedures and studies, the works should last a year. “But during this period, we will probably offer eventsmeetings so that the people of Brest and the Bretons take ownership of this place that we want to bring to life and also build with them. »

Opening at the end of 2026

The opening of “this new warm and friendly space” is planned for the end of 2026. “In October it would be good. We will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Brittany cinematheque at the end of 2026 and we will host that year, from November 24 to 27, the annual meetings of Inédits, a network of cinematheques and archive centers in Europe, which did not come to Brest for 20 years. »

The name of the place has not yet been found. Any idea?

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