Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Museum of Fine Arts in Calais, originally named Museum of Fine Arts and Lace, was designed by architect Paul Pamart and inaugurated in 1966. It is located in a typical building of the Reconstruction after the Second World War, close to Notre-Dame Church (Tudor style) and Richelieu Park, in the historic district of Calais-Nord. Labeled "Musée de France" in 2003, he has been dedicated to fine arts since 2009, when his lace collections were transferred to the Cité internationale de la Lace et de la Fashion.

The museum houses nearly 4,400 works, including paintings, sculptures, drawings and photographs, with a strong representation of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries (about 3,000 pieces). Among the artists exhibited are Gerrit van Honthorst, Eugène Boudin, Maurice Marinot, and Pablo Picasso with Le Vieil Homme (1970). The collection is also enriched with 231 works deposited by various institutions. The fonds includes a notable section of contemporary sculpture, including post-1960 English plays, as well as a drawing firm focused on Franco-English ties (1770–150).

The building, designed specifically to house a museum, has undergone minor improvements since its opening. In 1994, works improved accessibility (rape, elevator) and created an educational room, while in 2011, the old rooms dedicated to lace were redesigned after the transfer of collections. In 2014, the auditorium was completely redone. Despite ambitious projects (such as the reorganisation of the attic in 1997), only a technical upgrading of reserves and exhibition spaces has been achieved.

The museum is distinguished by its iconic building, the work of Paul Pamart, and its anchoring in local history, between artistic heritage and the memory of Reconstruction. Its label "Musée de France" and its central location, facing Parc Richelieu and near the church of Notre-Dame, make it a major cultural place in Hauts-de-France.

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