MAC VAL – Musée d'art contemporain du Val-de-Marne

About the museum

The MAC VAL collections originate in the Fonds départemental d’art contemporain du Val-de-Marne, created in 1982 to acquire works by living artists. In 1990 the departmental assembly chose the Carrefour de la Libération in Vitry-sur-Seine as the site for a future museum. The architectural practice of Jacques Ripault and Denise Duhart was selected in 1991 and proposed a white, transparent building open to the town and to a large public garden.

In 1996 a sculpture by Jean Dubuffet, “Chaufferie avec cheminée”, was installed on the square in front of the future museum. Construction ran from February 2003 to May 2005; the building covers 13,000 m² on a 20,000 m² plot, including 4,000 m² of exhibition space. The museum opened to the public on November 17, 2005 and holds the Musée de France label.

MAC VAL is a museum of the Val-de-Marne Département. Its collection now numbers around 2,500 works (videos, photographs, sculptures, paintings, drawings, installations) that offer an overview of French creation since the 1960s. It is shown in thematic hangings and is supplemented each year by two solo or group exhibitions.

Highlights

• Collection of around 2,500 works of French contemporary art
• Works by Christian Boltanski, Annette Messager, Gina Pane, Kader Attia or Pierre Huyghe
• White, luminous architecture by Jacques Ripault and Denise Duhart
• Public garden of more than 10,000 m² with sculptures from the collection
• Museum restaurant and free entry on the first Sunday of the month

Permanent exhibition

• Le genre idéal – Hanging of the collection, on show from March 2025 to January 2028.

Founded

2005

Operated by

Département du Val-de-Marne

Visitors per year

approx. 107,309

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of every month

Permanent free entry, with proof, for job seekers and recipients of the RSA (active solidarity income), members of the Maison des Artistes, holders of the press card, of ICOM, ICOMOS, AICA or C-E-A, partner teachers, heritage curators, art critics and national guide-lecturers (guides-conférenciers).

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
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum states that all of its areas are accessible by wheelchair. Wheelchairs and walking sticks with a seat are lent at reception. Accessible parking bays are located in the museum car park and along the avenue Eugène-Pelletan. The museum offers activities for deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind and partially sighted visitors, and for people with psychological or intellectual disabilities; a dedicated team answers questions.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly

Family visit for children from age 4 (45 minutes, Saturdays and Sundays at 15:00, with admission ticket and registration); “Bébés au MAC VAL” visit for 8 to 36 months on the first Wednesday of the month; “Fabriques d’art contemporain” workshops for 8- to 12-year-olds during the holidays; “Parcours des petits créateurs” from age 3; artist’s book workshops for 5- to 10-year-olds. The activity booklet “Le Bon Plan” is available at reception or for download, for a family visit at your own pace. Baby visits and family visits require a reservation.

Getting there & parking

The museum is about 5 km from Paris. From the Périphérique (exit Porte d’Italie or Porte d’Ivry), head for the Porte de Choisy, then take the D5 to the place de la Libération. An interactive city map shows cycle routes.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Coat check

Free cloakroom for visitors. Museum restaurant “Le Monde Marche”, open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00, with a €23 menu. Pushchairs, wheelchairs and folding seats can be borrowed free of charge at reception.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 300 guests.

Auditorium with 146 seats and a large reception room of 416 m² for 100 to 300 people for cocktails or seated dinners; a 45 m² meeting room in the documentation centre. Filming and fashion shoots possible.

Plan your visit