City of Street Arts

The Cité des Arts de la Rue, located in the 15th arrondissement of Marseille, is a center for creation and experimentation dedicated to street arts and performances in public spaces. Inaugurated on November 30, 2013, this structure is unique in Europe, not only for its size – covering an area of 36,000 square meters – but also for its mission to support the local and international development of street arts, combining creation, training, and cultural mediation. The project of the Cité des Arts de la Rue stems from the need for spaces dedicated to artistic creation in public spaces. In the early 2000s, several street arts companies residing in the northern neighborhoods of Marseille came together for a common project to redevelop a former industrial area in Aygalades. Architect François Lacube was tasked with transforming the old huilerie-savonnerie into a vibrant artistic center.The Cité is composed of several specialized structures that work in synergy: Lieux Publics, Karwan, Sud Side, Lézarap’art, FAI-AR (Formation Avancée et Itinérante des Arts de la Rue), Générik Vapeur, and the Bureau des Guides. Each structure brings unique skills, from set construction to production and dissemination of shows, to training new artists. This combination of skills makes the Cité an innovative hub for street arts in Europe.Lieux Publics, for example, is the national center for creation in street arts and public spaces, also recognized as a European creation hub. Karwan focuses on territorial cultural projects, while Sud Side is known for its spectacular set constructions. Lézarap’art is dedicated to cultural action in the community, and FAI-AR offers a unique advanced training program in Europe, dedicated to artistic creation in public spaces. A distinctive aspect of the Cité is its physical structure, which replicates the typology of a miniature city. It includes buildings, an internal street, green spaces, and a small waterfall, creating an ideal environment for artistic experimentation. This configuration allows artists to develop and test their creations in a context that simulates the real urban environment.The Cité des Arts de la Rue is also an important training center. FAI-AR, founded in 2005 by Michel Crespin, offers a 18-month itinerant training program that includes workshops on micro-architecture and artistic interventions in public spaces. This advanced training is aimed at young artists from across Europe, contributing to the spread of street arts and the professionalization of the sector.From a management perspective, the Cité is coordinated by the Association for the Cité des Arts de la Rue (ApCAR), which ensures the management of collective spaces and collaboration between the various resident structures. Funding comes in part from the City of Marseille, which sees the Cité as a strategic project for the enhancement of the territory and cultural development.