A Fonds régional d'art contemporain (Frac) is a public regional collection of contemporary art set in one of the metropolitan or overseas regions of France.The 23 regional collections or contemporary art, website lescollectionsdesfrac.fr. There are currently 23 Fracs across the country, organised into a national network called Platform since 2005. Fracs are funded by regions, by the state through the Ministry of Culture and by municipalities. Originally without venues, Fracs are now hosted in repurposed historical buildings, or in purpose-built art museums, depending on the size of their collection.
Founding and history Fracs were founded by culture minister Jack Lang, as part of a decentralization policy to move aspects of governance out to regional governments. Starting in 1982, regional funds were set up to promote and support contemporary art by forming regional collections, and engaging in outreach to local communities and cultural institutions. For instance, it has often supported the creation of projects following the Protocol of the New patrons in France, developing over sixty artworks commissioned by local inhabitants.
The goals of the Frac program are: To build a heritage of contemporary art in French regions, and support the creation of new art through the combined actions of acquisitions and commissioning works. Each Frac may decide to specialize in a particular category of contemporary art. To disseminate funds widely within each region, developing regular partnerships with cultural institutions, local authorities and schools. To raise broad awareness in contemporary art methods, through tours, speakers, events with artists, and workshops with young people.
Next generation Starting in 2011, the Frac next generation programme set out plans to build new physical museums for several of these collections: Bretagne (Rennes, designed by architect Odile Decq, opened July 6, 2012) Centre-Val de Loire (Orléans, designed by architects Jakob + MacFarlane, opened September 5, 2013) Franche-Comté (Besançon, designed by architect Kengo Kuma, opened April 6, 2013) Grand Large – Hauts-de-France (Dunkerque, designed by architects Lacaton et Vassal, opened November 16, 2013) Nouvelle-Aquitaine MÉCA (Bordeaux, designed by architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and FREAKS, opened June 28, 2019) Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (Marseille, designed by architect Kengo Kuma, opened March 22, 2013)
Frac collections The 23 Frac collections, as of 2015:
Region City Name Creation Collection Alsace Sélestat Frac Alsace 1982 1357 works, 489 artists Collection du Frac Alsace , sur Videomusem, au 16 juin 2009. Aquitaine Bordeaux Frac Aquitaine 1982 330 artists, over 1000 works Auvergne Clermont-Ferrand Frac Auvergne 1985 238 artistes Bourgogne Dijon Frac Bourgogne 1984 650 works Bretagne Rennes Frac Bretagne 1981 3928 works, 496 artists Collection du Frac Bretagne , sur Videomuseum, au 29 janvier 2009. Centre-Val de Loire Orléans Frac Centre-Val de Loire 1982 13424 works, 391 artists Collection du Frac Centre Champagne-Ardenne Reims Frac Champagne-Ardenne 1984 680 works, 243 artists Collection du Frac Champagne-Ardenne , sur Videomuseum, au 1er octobre 2009. Corse Corte Frac Corse Franche-Comté Besançon Frac Franche-Comté 1982 473 works, |255 artists Présentation, sur le site du Frac de Franche-Comté. Île-de-France Paris, 19th arrondissement Le Plateau / Frac Ile-de-France 1347 works, 552 artists Collection du Frac Île-de-France, sur Navigart, au 25 août 2015. Languedoc-Roussillon Montpellier Frac Languedoc-Roussillon 981 works, 372 artists Collection du Frac Languedoc-Roussillon , sur Videomuseum, au 31 août 2007 Limousin Limoges Frac Limousin 1982 1271 works, 311 artists Collection du Frac Limousin , sur Videomuseum, au 7 juin 2007. Lorraine Metz Frac Lorraine 1983 729 works, 277 artists Collection du FRAC Lorraine Midi-Pyrénées Toulouse Les Abattoirs, Musée - Frac Occitanie Toulouse 2332 works, 701 artists Collection du Frac Midi-Pyrénées / Les Abattoirs , sur Videomuseum, au 7 août 2008. Nord-Pas-de-Calais Dunkerque Frac Nord-Pas-de-Calais 1983 1272 works, 512 artists Collection du Frac Nord-Pas-de-Calais , sur Videomuseum, au 6 avril 2009. Basse-Normandie Caen Frac Basse-Normandie 1983 979 works, |393 artists Collection du Frac Basse-Normandie, sur Videomuseum, au 26 mars 2009. Haute-Normandie Sotteville-lès-Rouen Frac Haute-Normandie Pays de la Loire Carquefou Frac des Pays de la Loire 1982 Picardie Amiens Frac Picardie 1983 1538 works, 223 artists Collection du Frac Picardie , sur Videomuseum, au 12 octobre 2009. Poitou-Charentes Angoulême Frac Poitou-Charentes 1983 801 works, 326 artists Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Marseille Frac Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur 1982 849 works, 389 artists Collection du Frac Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur , sur Videomuseum, au 16 février 2009. Rhône-Alpes Villeurbanne Institut d'art contemporain Martinique Fort-de-France Frac Martinique La Réunion Saint-Denis Frac Réunion
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