Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Centre Pompidou-Metz (CPM) is a public cultural cooperation institution created by a desire to decentralize the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Located in Metz, between the Parc de la Seille and the railway station, it is part of the project of urbanization of the district of l'Amphitheatre, formerly occupied by rail wasteland. Inaugurated on 12 May 2010 after a first stone laid in 2006 by Claude Pompidou, it symbolizes a cross-border cultural dynamic, close to Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium. Its architecture, inspired by a traditional Chinese hat, is the result of a collaboration between Shigeru Ban, Jean de Gastines and Philip Gumuchdjian, with an innovative wooden frame and a glass fibre roof covered with teflon.

The total budget of the project was EUR 69.33 million in 2009, financed mainly by Metz Métropole (€43.33 million), the State, the European Union, the Lorraine region and the Moselle department. The building, designed by Demathieu & Bard, consists of three superimposed exhibition galleries (5,020 m2), a nave of 1,200 m2, an auditorium and a creative studio. The structure combines reinforced concrete, a 77 m metal tower (reference to 1977, opening of the Centre Pompidou Paris) and a wood frame interlaced, designed as a hexagonal net. Despite technical challenges, such as roof tears in 2010 and 2013, the centre has become a major cultural hub, attracting more than 500,000 visitors in its first year.

The CPM is part of a democratisation of modern and contemporary art, with an inaugural exhibition entitled " Chefs-d'œuvre?" presenting 800 works from the Parisian collections. Its programme includes temporary exhibitions (4-6 per year), international co-productions and events such as "Constellation" (2009), foreshadowing its opening. The centre also highlighted artists like Marc Chagall, with an exhibition dedicated to its stained glass windows in 2020-2021. Its impact goes beyond the cultural framework: it has boosted the local economy, attracted businesses such as East Works for access bridges, and revealed Roman archaeological remains during excavations of the underground parking lot.

The architecture of the CPM is marked by a strong symbolism, like the hexagon reflected in the frame and through galleries 80 m long. Panoramic views from the galleries (7 m, 14 m and 21 m high) offer views of the Metz Cathedral, the Imperial Quarter and the Seille Park. The roof, designed to be self-cleaning, has, however, experienced weather-related problems, requiring intervention. The project was led by political figures such as Jean-Jacques Aillagon and Jean-Marie Rausch, with the ambition to position Metz as a European cultural crossroads, like the Guggenheim in Bilbao.

The CPM was managed by successive presidents: Laurent Le Bon (2010-2014), Emma Lavigne (2014-2019) and Chiara Parisi (since 2019). The centre organizes various thematic exhibitions, such as "Aerodream" (2021) on inflatable structures or "Mimesis" (2022) on design and nature. Its success depends on ambitious programming, iconic architecture and strategic location in the heart of the Greater Region, strengthening cross-border trade. The "Project House" (2006-2009), designed as an information and mediation space, prepared the public for this opening, welcoming more than 100,000 visitors before the construction site closed.

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