History of the Maison

Several milestones have taken the organisers of the International Biennal of the Mois de la Photo to the creation of a new institution: the Maison Européenne de la Photographie.

1978 - Creation of Paris Audiovisuel
The role of this association was to introduce, in relation with the City of Paris Arts Department, an original policy for photographic creation and distribution.

1980 - The first Mois de la Photo
The concept of this biannual event, which became France's most popular festival in 1994 with more than 500,000 visitors, has now been copied by several international capital cities.

1983 - Opening of the City of Paris photographic conservation and restoration workshop
This was the first public laboratory in Europe to specialise in photography. With Anne Cartier-Bresson in charge, the laboratory has introduced a training policy which has led to the creation of similar organisations in other European countries.

1985 - Opening of the Espace Photographique
In the heart of Les Halles, halfway between the gallery and the museum, this 400-square metre area designed to present contemporary photography has already welcomed more than 200,000 visitors. Some prestigious exhibitions have been presented there, including works by Bernard Pierre Wolff, Alice Springs, Denis Roche, Harry Meerson, Bettina Rheims, Frank Horvat, Weegee, Helmut Newton, Bill Brandt, Raymond Voinquel, Lee Miller, Andy Warhol, etc.

1986 - First issue of La Recherche Photographique
This international six-monthly magazine, directed by André Rouillé and produced in collaboration with the University of Paris VIII, aims to promote and stimulate thinking about the history and aesthetics of photography. Each issue prints up to 3,000 copies, and is distributed throughout the world.

1996 - Inauguration of the Maison Européenne de la Photographie
Architect - Yves Lion, Commissioning authority - S.A.G.I., Investment budget, administrative and financial monitoring - City of Paris Arts Department

The hôtel Hénault de Cantobre

The mansion which houses the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, situated at no. 82, rue François Miron, was built in 1706 for Hénault de Cantobre, the royal tax collector. It has belonged to the City of Paris since 1914, and was chosen as the site for the Maison Européenne in 1990. The City authorities asked the Yves Lion firm of architects to undertake the restoration of the original building, as well as the addition of a new wing on the rue de Fourcy. The façade overlooking the street, the period ironwork and the central staircase are all fine examples of classical architecture, and as such all are listed features.

Level -1 :

Les Ateliers - 180 m2
In the vaulted 18th century basement, this exhibition space is used to display work at the cutting edge of contemporary photography, as well as film projections, installations, etc.

The Roméo Martinez Library and Video Facility

The Bernard-Pierre Wolff Auditorium

La Cimaise
This exhibition space near the Auditorium provides young photographers with an opportunity to show their work. In this way, the Maison Européenne actively encourages and supports young artists.

Le café

Level 0 :

La Vitrine
This exhibition space looking directly out onto the rue François Miron is used for installations - many presented here for the first time - that can be seen by both visitors to the centre and people passing by in the street. The installations help to establish a dynamic relationship between the Maison Européenne and its surroundings.

Level 1 :

Hénault de Cantobre room - 120 m²
This first-floor gallery is used for exhibitions of original period prints, and for presentations of rare books that have played an outstanding role in the history of contemporary photography.

Bookshop

Level 2 :

Contemporary Gallery - 550 m²
The inaugural exhibition at the MEP in spring 1996 was entitled 'Une Aventure Contemporaine : la Photographie' and looked at the most important developments in photography over the last forty years. Since then a series of large retrospectives and themed exhibitions have offered opportunities to discover - or rediscover - the work of some of the most important figures of recent photographic history. The galleries on the second floor are used for exhibitions which throw light on the work of a particular artist, or which reflect current trends in international photography.

Level 3 :

Permanent Collection - 550 m²
The collection of the Maison Européenne de la Photographie is presented in regularly revised displays in several areas, including the Irving Penn Room and the Polaroid Room. This contemporary collection is currently made up of 12,000 works

Level 4 :

The ARCP Conservation and Restoration Workshop                                                           

Le Café

The café in the vaulted 18th century basement is open to visitors from Thursday to Sunday, 11 am to 7 pm, and on Wednesdays from 11 am to 5 pm.

Bookshop

The bookshop on the first floor is open to visitors from Wednesday to Sunday, from 11.30 am to 2 pm and from 2.30 pm to 7.30 pm.

Conservation Activities

The ARCP has three main fields of activity: restoration, conservation and reproduction. Whatever the type of work to be done, all photographic material is first carefully examined to establish its structure, its composition and its state of preservation.

Restoration

Since the very beginning, a large number of different techniques have been used to produce photographic images. This means that each image has its own specific aesthetic, physical and chemical characteristics, which must be preserved intact. Photographic restoration has developed only recently as a specialisation, and its techniques are quite distinct from those applied elsewhere in graphic art restoration.

Training

The ARCP welcomes trainees from France and abroad. In collaboration with other organisations it organises classes and seminars on the problems of identifying photographic techniques as well as on aspects of conservation and restoration.