Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - In mid-July, the doors of the "Friche Artistique et Solidaire" officially opened in the Alpins district. The association, led by Laure Mugnier, Hervé Barrioz and James Midol-Monnet, has taken possession of two former military buildings to breathe new life into them as an artistic, community and civic centre.
"Last year, we tried out two months of events: concerts, exhibitions, family evenings and discovery workshops. The idea was simple: to see if there was a demand. The immediate response was yes. says James Midol-Monnet.
This initial experiment has now led to a three-year agreement with the city. Objective: transforming this still raw site into a cultural third place where residents, artists and associations can meet, create and socialise.
"Our role is not to invent a new cultural model, but to bring together what already exists: the network of associations is dense, and all it needed was to be grouped together in the same place". stresses Hervé Barrioz.
An eclectic and inclusive programme
From this summer onwards, the 'Friche' will come alive three days a week (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) with an expanded programme: concerts every fortnight (five or six evenings planned this summer), stand-up comedy and themed evenings, wellbeing sessions (yoga, qi gong, fitness) and workshops dedicated to senior citizens, introductory workshops with local artists (painting, sculpture, photography, crafts) and areas for discussions and presentations by associations to raise awareness of initiatives in the valley.
At the heart of the project is a community bar-café, designed as a friendly, accessible meeting place. "We want a place that belongs to the residents. Everyone should be able to push open the door to have a coffee, discover an artist or take part in a workshop". sums up Laure Mugnier.
The ambition is clear: to make the 'Friche' a recognised cultural centre in the valley. "We're still at the live construction stage, but we're moving forward with the idea of opening all year round". confirms the team. The association also wants to involve local residents in the programming. "We want to give everyone the chance to make the place their own.
Beyond the summer season, the 'Friche' could become a permanent cultural laboratory in a city still heavily influenced by tourism. "It's no longer just about seasonal leisure activities: we want to contribute to a real year-round lifestyle.