Art Behind the Scenes:
59 Rivoli, a Parisian Art Squat & Collective

Where: 59 rue de Rivoli, Paris 75001
Entrance fee: by donation
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 1pm-8pm (closed Mondays)
Visit the website

If you find yourself wandering down la rue de Rivoli you may be a little overwhelmed by the crowds and commercial street scene. This area around Place du Châtelet is not without its charm; la Tour St Jacques is an example of a beautiful feature with one of the best views of the city. However, the street itself is more or less a one stop shop for big box stores. Tucked in somewhere amongst H&M, MacDonalds, and Footlocker you will find 59 RIVOLI.

The collective is comprised of thirty artist studios, fifteen of which are permanent and another fifteen dedicated to temporary artists in residence (three-six months) and an exposition/performance space. The building has a winding staircase that takes you up through each floor—a piece of artwork in itself—and an ever changing exterior façade installation.

Wandering through the various floors has sort of a Being John Malcovich feel to it, as if you’ve stepped into the labyrinth of the mind of an artist with multiple personalities. There are open, organised spaces, but there are also little hidden nooks and crannies filled to the brim with old paintings, supplies, and found objects.

Not only that, you also encounter the artists themselves working away on their craft. Be courteous, you are being invited into an intense atmosphere of creativity; the behind the scenes of the artistic process. If you’ve come to Paris to see the Louvre, the Pompidou, and other famous museums, this is a stop to remind you of all the hard work, energy, and thousands of hours it takes to cultivate craft.

History

The building was previously owned by the Crédit Lyonnais (a bank) and was left abandoned for fifteen years. In 1999, three artists, Kalex, Gaspard Delanoë, and Bruno Dumont (calling themselves the KGB), broke in and decided to set up shop. With the help of friends they cleaned up the space, ridding it of dead pigeons, needles, and various garbage, in order to make space for a dozen artists to live, work, and exhibit in hopes of promoting a cultural alternative (from 59 Rivoli website). During the first year of operation the “squart” (squat – art ) was visited by over 40,000 people.

A few months in, they received an eviction notice from the city, however, as the artists had been well received in the community the prefecture of Paris decided to wait to deal with the issue after the up coming elections. One of the candidates, Bertrand Delanoë, promised that if elected he would save the “squart” (I’m not loving this word). When he was elected he came through with his promises (shocking!) and the city bought the building and legalised the squat, an action which paved the way for other art squats to make similar moves.

The building today presents an alternative approach to showing art and has up to 4,000 visitors each week. If you’re looking for inspiration, make sure you check out this gem in the heart of Paris.

In addition to the exhibition of workshops, the gallery also hosts a number of cultural events, concerts, and performances. Visit their website to see a calendar of upcoming events.