Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Centre national du costume et de la scène (CNCS) is a French museum located in Moulins, Allier, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It is located in the old Villars cavalry district, built in the 18th century, and classified as a historic monument for its yellow and pink sandstone stairs. This site, originally designed to house dragons and cavalry, was transformed in 1996 to become the first museum in the world entirely dedicated to the conservation of the material heritage of theatres, including 10,000 costumes and painted decorations.

The CNCS was inaugurated on 1 July 2006 after a restoration led by François Voinchet, chief architect of historical monuments, and the addition of a modern building designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte to house the reserves. Its missions include the conservation, study and enhancement of costumes and decors deposited by institutions such as the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Comédie-Française and the Opéra de Paris. The museum offers temporary exhibitions, a specialized documentation centre, and educational spaces.

In 2022, the CNCS welcomed close to 100,000 visitors, marking a record since its opening, despite the impact of the pandemic in previous years. A new wing dedicated to theatrical scenography and named The Scene was opened in 2023 after work started in 2020. This project added 2,000 m2 of space, including reserves adapted to new acquisitions and a museum path in three acts: design, manufacturing and representation.

The main building, built between 1770 and 1782 by architects Desvaux and Plouvier, had several uses before its conversion. Initially a military barracks, he was converted into a begging depot in 1810 and reassigned to the army in 1844. After World War II, it was raised from one floor. Its classification as a historical monument in 1984 allowed its preservation before its transformation into a museum.

The CNCS is distinguished by its innovative museum approach, with exhibitions renewed every four months to preserve costumes. He collaborates with creators such as Christian Lacroix, chairman of his board of directors at its inauguration. The museum also plays an educational role, forming curators and performing arts artisans, while attracting a varied audience, mostly individual (74% in 2022).

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