Christian Estrosi has presented the future Palais des Arts et de la Culture, planned for 2030 in Nice. It will replace the Palais des Expositions and will host a theater, a cinematheque, and exhibitions.
On the occasion of the evening “À vous la parole : culture”, Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, unveiled the outline of the future Palais des Arts et de la Culture. This new facility will be located in the current Palais des Expositions, built between 1954 and 1956. It is expected to open by 2030.
The announcement was made in front of an audience composed of cultural figures, institutions, and Nice residents. The mayor presented this project as a new step in the transformation of the cultural policy that has been implemented for several years.
A Conversion for an Iconic Venue
With a surface of 17,000 m², the current Palais des Expositions will be redesigned to host several spaces: a large hall for the Théâtre National de Nice capable of hosting 800 spectators, a cinematheque, and a space dedicated to exhibitions. The architecture of the building will be preserved, particularly its light vault spanning 69 meters in width and 150 meters in length.
“This new setting will host the future large hall of the Théâtre National de Nice with a capacity of 800 seats, the cinematheque, and an exhibition space,” specified Christian Estrosi. “The Palais des Arts et de la Culture is part of the cultural policy I have been pursuing for 15 years. It aims to energize cultural offerings and to provide a modern and efficient tool to cultural actors.”
Feasibility studies have been conducted. A competitive dialogue procedure will be launched soon to refine the project with the various partners.
An Increased Budget to Support Culture
This future cultural center is part of a broader strategy promoted by the municipality. The cultural budget of the city of Nice for 2025 amounts to 93.1 million euros. This represents an increase of 4% compared to the previous year. A budget of 16.4 million euros is reserved for the renovation and maintenance of municipal establishments.
The project of the Palais des Arts et de la Culture adds to other ongoing operations: the renovation of the MAMAC, the Natural History Museum, the Louis Nucéra library, and the Jules-Chéret Fine Arts Museum.
Christian Estrosi concludes: “This project is a long-term investment just like all the projects we are undertaking. They are the showcase of a generous, ambitious cultural policy, to make Nice a territory of creation, sharing, and empowerment.”
Thus, the transformation of the Palais des Expositions into a cultural center marks a turning point for this building from the 1950s. An important project to follow in the years to come.