Frac Normandie Rouen
The Frac Normandie Rouen, founded in 1983, has since 1998 been based within a former industrial building located in Sotteville-lès-Rouen. This building features an exhibition space of 400 sq. m. split over two levels. Each year the Frac holds three exhibitions here – one devoted to an established French or foreign artist, another focussing on one of the prominent mediums of the collection, and the ‘Inventory’ exhibition, based on the idea of exhibiting works in the order in which they entered the collection.
Each exhibition is coupled with a comprehensive programme of events, such as concerts, public lectures, encounters and hands-on workshops. The building also boasts an educational space dedicated to these events and to the reception of school or non-school groups.
Alongside these exhibitions onsite, the Frac disseminates its collection throughout the region, showcasing it through a theme-based approach linked to the land and heritage of Normandy. On the strength of its involvement at local level, the Frac has also developed a range of initiatives to present works from its collection all year round in a wide variety of venues, including schools, hospitals, universities, opera houses and drama centres.
Exploring the now historical dimension of a holding usually focussed on the art of the moment
When I was appointed director of the Frac in 2010, I decided to try and offer the public a more historical and scientific approach to the collection by creating the ‘Inventory’ project. This involves exhibiting, on an annual basis, part of the collection according to the inventory number of the works, which corresponds to their order of arrival into the collection. This long-term initiative is an opportunity to explore the rationale and structural dynamic of the collection; to consider the significance and now historical dimension of a holding usually focussed on the art of the moment.
I also wanted to showcase the mediums that featured most widely in the collection through large group exhibitions. Photography was celebrated in 2012 with the exhibition ‘Learning Photography’, and once again in 2020 with ‘Photography Tested by Abstraction’; in 2014 it was the turn of artists’ books and publications with the exhibition ‘Bibliologie’; in 2015 works on paper were honoured with ‘Fabriquer le dessin’ in conjunction with the collections of modern and vintage drawings of the Musée André Malraux (MuMA) in Le Havre and the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rouen; and posters with the exhibition ‘Poster’ in 2017.
Moreover, every year I ask an artist to present their work in the manner of a retrospective exhibition at the Frac. Among the many photographers of all nationalities who have been invited are the English artist Darren Almond, Geert Goiris of Belgium, Gilles Saussier and Isabelle Le Minh from France and the American visual artist Anne Collier. Following these solo shows, the Frac has acquired some photographs and launched some publications. It seems very important that these retrospectives, which offer an in-depth look at an artistic approach, should leave an imprint on our collections.
And finally, we disseminate the collection extensively at regional level each year through a number of innovative projects such as ‘Le Frac à…’ (A Frac for…), ‘Une œuvre, un établissement’ (One work, one institution) and ‘Un espace, une œuvre’ (One space, one work). We also organise exhibitions with a significant local focus, such as ‘Les Maisons des Illustres’ (The Houses of the Illustrious) or ‘La Route des Abbayes’ (The regional abbey route). These theme-based itineraries are a unique opportunity to allow our artworks to interact with the wealth of Normandy’s heritage.
Véronique Souben is an art historian and curator. Since 2010 she has been director of the Frac Normandie Rouen, where she has presented the first solo exhibitions in France of international artists such as Darren Almond, Michael Sailstorfer and Anne Collier and has developed a collection-focused programme, specifically through her ‘Inventory’ initiative. She was previously involved with a number of cultural institutions in France and Germany, including the Centre Pompidou, the Centre d’art (CAC) in Meymac, the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin and the Marta Museum for Contemporary Art – Herford, whose 2005 inauguration and cultural agenda she helped manage with its director Jan Hoet.
Technical acquisition committee
Olivier Vadrot
Nicolas Trembley
Marjolaine Lévy
Jill Gasparina
Vincent Pécoil
Administration
Patrick Gomont
Vincent Pécoil
Contact
Frac Normandie Rouen
3 place des Martyrs-de-la-résistance
76300 Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France
contact@fracnomandierouen.fr
T. +33 (0)2 35 72 27 51