Carré d'art

About the museum

In 1983 Jean Bousquet, the newly elected mayor of Nîmes, confirmed the project of a major cultural centre facing the Roman Maison Carrée. In 1984 the British architect Norman Foster was chosen from twelve invited architects. The project was part of the policy of cultural decentralisation launched in France in the 1980s.

The building, a rectangular glass volume organised around a covered atrium, recalls the inner courtyards of Nîmes houses. It has nine levels, four of them above street level; the museum occupies the top two, and the building also houses the media library. Carré d’Art opened on May 8, 1993.

The collection was built from 1986 with the help of the Direction des musées de France. It now comprises nearly 700 works created since 1960, acquired or deposited by the FRAC Languedoc-Roussillon and the Fonds national d’art contemporain. It emphasises movements born in the south of France, such as Nouveau Réalisme, Supports-Surfaces and Figuration libre.

The collection displays are renewed every year. The foyer houses two commissioned works: “Mud Line” by Richard Long and “Gaul” by Ellsworth Kelly.

Highlights

• Norman Foster’s glass building facing the Maison Carrée
• Contemporary art collection since 1960, including Arte Povera, Nouveau Réalisme and Supports-Surfaces
• Works by Gerhard Richter, Sigmar Polke and Annette Messager
• Covered glass atrium and foyer with works by Richard Long and Ellsworth Kelly
• Collection displays renewed every year

Permanent exhibition

• La collection du musée – The displays show contemporary art since 1960, with artists of Arte Povera, Nouveau Réalisme and Supports-Surfaces; they are renewed every year.

Founded

1993

Director

Jean-Marc Prévost

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of the month

The full price of €8 gives access to the temporary exhibition and the permanent collection. Also free with proof for job seekers, journalists, ICOM members and school groups. The Nîmes City Pass is sold by the tourist office. Cheques are no longer accepted.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The building is announced as accessible to all, including wheelchair users. The Maison Carrée car park has 11 accessible spaces out of 431. Groups including people with reduced mobility may use the building’s loading bay by reservation. The cultural department answers accessibility questions at +33 4 66 76 35 74.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Art workshops for children aged 6 to 12 take place on Wednesdays from 14:00 to 16:00 outside school holidays, and from Wednesday to Friday during school holidays; each session begins with a visit and continues with a workshop, by reservation. A family visit followed by a workshop takes place on the third Sunday of the month at 11:30 (free for children, supplement for adults).

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum bookshop with publications and artists’ editions, plus an online bookshop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit