Musée de la Création Franche

About the museum

The Musée de la Création Franche was founded in Bègles, near Bordeaux, in 1989, on the initiative of Noël Mamère, then mayor, and Gérard Sendrey. The term “création franche” was coined by Gérard Sendrey in 1989 to designate free creators working outside conventions and institutions. The site became a municipal museum in 1996.

The collection grew gradually through donations from creators and collectors. It comprises some 20,000 works of art brut, folk art and naive art. According to the museum, this is the first collection of art brut and related art to enter the domaine public in France. The museum received the Musée de France designation at the end of 2022, and it publishes the journal Création Franche.

The museum was previously housed in a former residence that had become too small. Since 2017 it has been a facility of metropolitan interest, supported by Bordeaux Métropole and the city of Bègles. An extension and renovation project costing €13 million, designed by the agency Basalt Architecture, will double the museum's size by adding three buildings around the existing house, with a patio, an auditorium and a resource center.

Construction began in September 2024. The museum is closed to the public during the works; it runs activities outside its walls, and reopening is announced for September 2027.

Highlights

• Collection of about 20,000 works of art brut and related art
• Musée de France designation since 2022
• Création Franche journal published by the museum
• 1,550 m² extension project by Basalt Architecture

Permanent exhibition

• Fonds de collection Création Franche – Works of art brut and related art from the museum's collection; the permanent exhibition is suspended during the works.

Founded

1989

Operated by

Ville de Bègles (équipement d’intérêt métropolitain de Bordeaux Métropole)

Admission & discounts

The museum is closed for extension and renovation works; reopening is announced for September 2027.

Accessibility

The museum is closed for extension and renovation works; reopening is announced for September 2027.

Kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

A downloadable activity booklet lets children discover the museum's construction site and its surroundings.

Getting there & parking

From the tram stops “Stade Musard” or “Calais Centujean,” the museum is about ten minutes on foot. From Bègles station, take bus 35 toward Bordeaux Gare Saint-Jean and get off at the “Bibliothèque” stop. Temporary address of the team: 75 avenue du Maréchal de Lattre-de-Tassigny.

Amenities & dining

The museum is closed for extension and renovation works; reopening is announced for September 2027.

Events & venue rental

The museum is closed for extension and renovation works; reopening is announced for September 2027.

Plan your visit