Missions
The Établissement public du Grand Palais, presided by Jean-Paul Cluzel, has been given an ambitious project. Programming the Nave, completing the restoration of the building and offering new facilities and services.
Our Missions
Complete the restoration and highlight the value of the monument
The restoration of the façades of the Grand Palais was completed at the end of 2008. © Collection Grand Palais, François Tomasi
Completing the restoration of the monument, preserving its beauty and prestige and maintaining it are at the heart of the mission assigned to the Établissement public du Grand Palais.
Following an order of April 17 2007, the monument was endowed to the Établissement public du Grand Palais, which then became responsible for conducting any restoration work. The ÉMOC (a public works body specialised in heritage buildings) had been responsible for this in the past and had carried out the first stages of the restoration work.
The last stage in the exterior restoration work involved the restoration of the southern facades of the Grand Palais (overlooking the Cours-la-Reine). This was completed at the end of 2008. Interior restoration work is also planned. This concerns the Alexandre-111 rotunda, the Queen's rotunda, and the coachman's passage.
Following an order of April 17 2007, the monument was endowed to the Établissement public du Grand Palais, which then became responsible for conducting any restoration work. The ÉMOC (a public works body specialised in heritage buildings) had been responsible for this in the past and had carried out the first stages of the restoration work.
The last stage in the exterior restoration work involved the restoration of the southern facades of the Grand Palais (overlooking the Cours-la-Reine). This was completed at the end of 2008. Interior restoration work is also planned. This concerns the Alexandre-111 rotunda, the Queen's rotunda, and the coachman's passage.
To safeguard the future of the Grand Palais we must also consolidate its role as a pioneer and a precursor at the forefront of the avant-garde. This is why the EPGPCE has made a point of associating artists with the renaissance of the building launching a competitive bidding process in February 2009. The winner was the Beckmann - N'Thépé agency.
Organise events, promote and strengthen the appeal of the site
The facade of the Grand Palais. © Collection Grand Palais, François Tomasi
One of the governing body's missions is to organise events and promote the areas of the Grand Palais that it manages - the Nave and other areas that were completed at the end of 2008 - to welcome and encourage all forms of activities, exhibitions and events.
It is essential for the governing body of the Grand Palais to propose a demanding and varied programme that is based on three main themes: contemporary artistic creation, innovation and business activities. The new available floor space will allow for an enhanced and varied programme.
Key to strengthening the appeal of the Grand Palais is an ambitious events programme and the creation of new areas (like the fully digital 104-seater projection room opened in December 2008) and new visitor facilities.
It is essential for the governing body of the Grand Palais to propose a demanding and varied programme that is based on three main themes: contemporary artistic creation, innovation and business activities. The new available floor space will allow for an enhanced and varied programme.
Key to strengthening the appeal of the Grand Palais is an ambitious events programme and the creation of new areas (like the fully digital 104-seater projection room opened in December 2008) and new visitor facilities.
Creating new areas
South-east gallery. The South-east gallery before being restored. © Collection Grand Palais, François Tomasi
With its unique architecture, the Grand Palais still has great potential for development, notably thanks to hitherto unknown areas that are inaccessible to the public today. A major programme to redesign the interior, largely self-financed by EPGPCE, was launched in January 2008.
This programme will make it possible to double the available floor space and open refurbished areas to the public. These include:
- The VIP lounge, a magnificent area of 1,200 m2 with a glass roof in the heart of the Grand Palais. This was the setting for the first exhibitions and the scene of countless events. On March 12 2009, access to the VIP Lounge from the Nave, sealed off since 1947, was reopened at a specially organised media event. This marked the start of restoration work on this superb facility that will be able to host high-profile events again in 2011.
- The south-east gallery is an area of 700 m² that has been out of use since 1999. Restored in autumn 2010, it will be born again with its initial volume and glass roof and available for events and exhibitions. The first exhibition, devoted to tags and graffiti, took place in the area, prior to restoration in April and May 2009.
Operating the renovated areas will involve responding to three goals: enhancing and diversifying the programme of the Grand Palais, providing more modular areas and developing the business of hiring out these areas.
The design programme will be carried out alongside the events that take place in the Nave, without causing any disruption.
This programme will make it possible to double the available floor space and open refurbished areas to the public. These include:
- The VIP lounge, a magnificent area of 1,200 m2 with a glass roof in the heart of the Grand Palais. This was the setting for the first exhibitions and the scene of countless events. On March 12 2009, access to the VIP Lounge from the Nave, sealed off since 1947, was reopened at a specially organised media event. This marked the start of restoration work on this superb facility that will be able to host high-profile events again in 2011.
- The south-east gallery is an area of 700 m² that has been out of use since 1999. Restored in autumn 2010, it will be born again with its initial volume and glass roof and available for events and exhibitions. The first exhibition, devoted to tags and graffiti, took place in the area, prior to restoration in April and May 2009.
Operating the renovated areas will involve responding to three goals: enhancing and diversifying the programme of the Grand Palais, providing more modular areas and developing the business of hiring out these areas.
The design programme will be carried out alongside the events that take place in the Nave, without causing any disruption.
Providing a better welcome for visitors
Welcoming the public. © Collection Grand Palais, François Tomasi
Whilst considered by all as totally unique, the Grand Palais still suffers from a lack of facilities and comfort for visitors. Yet, welcoming the public at large in the best possible conditions is one of the institution's key missions.
The Grand Palais' 2008/2011 action plan includes the following facilities and services:
- A new Web site launched in June 2008;
- New signage inside the Nave's peristyle (the avenue Winston Churchill entrance) with information boards introduced in 2008: four boards in French and English provide information related to key dates in the history of the Grand Palais, its events programme, missions and accessibility. Another large panel outlines the history of the building.
- New facilities for the disabled are actually in progress.
A new book on the Grand Palais, entitled Le Grand Palais, monument-Capitale, was published in February 2009 as part of the Découvertes Gallimard series. It is the first step in a new publication policy undertaken by the EPGPCE to produce books for the widest possible audience at affordable prices while attaching the greatest importance to the quality of the scientific information, the editorial and iconographic content.
The Grand Palais' 2008/2011 action plan includes the following facilities and services:
- A new Web site launched in June 2008;
- New signage inside the Nave's peristyle (the avenue Winston Churchill entrance) with information boards introduced in 2008: four boards in French and English provide information related to key dates in the history of the Grand Palais, its events programme, missions and accessibility. Another large panel outlines the history of the building.
- New facilities for the disabled are actually in progress.
A new book on the Grand Palais, entitled Le Grand Palais, monument-Capitale, was published in February 2009 as part of the Découvertes Gallimard series. It is the first step in a new publication policy undertaken by the EPGPCE to produce books for the widest possible audience at affordable prices while attaching the greatest importance to the quality of the scientific information, the editorial and iconographic content.
