Palais de Tokyo institutionalizes co-production model
Since 2022, under the leadership of director Guillaume Désanges, the Palais de Tokyo has prioritized co-production as a fundamental aspect of its programming. Significant collaborations include "Doppelgänger!" (2023) in partnership with Deichtorhallen Hamburg, "Alphabeta Sigma" focusing on Rammellzee with CAPC Bordeaux and Museion Bolzano (2026), "Disco" featuring Vivian Suter (2025) alongside MAAT Lisbon and Carré d'Art Nîmes, a retrospective of Melvin Edwards in collaboration with Fridericianum Kassel and Kunsthalle Bern, and "Virages Vierges" by Pauline Curnier Jardin with Museo Reina Sofía Madrid. Additionally, domestic projects feature Mohamed Bourouissa's "Signal" at LaM Villeneuve-d'Ascq (2024) and Myriam Mihindou's "Praesentia" with Crac Occitanie Sète (2024). The Palais is set to undergo renovations starting October 2027, during which a "quinquennale" will take place in alternative locations.
Key facts
- Guillaume Désanges has been director of Palais de Tokyo since 2022.
- Co-production involves joint conception from the start, not touring.
- "Doppelgänger!" (2023) was co-produced with Deichtorhallen Hamburg.
- "Alphabeta Sigma" on Rammellzee co-produced with CAPC Bordeaux and Museion Bolzano (2026).
- "Disco" on Vivian Suter (2025) co-produced with MAAT Lisbon and Carré d'Art Nîmes.
- Melvin Edwards retrospective co-produced with Fridericianum Kassel and Kunsthalle Bern.
- "Virages Vierges" by Pauline Curnier Jardin co-produced with Museo Reina Sofía Madrid.
- Valérie John's 2026 exhibition co-produced with CARA New York.
- Mohamed Bourouissa's "Signal" shown at LaM Villeneuve-d'Ascq in 2024.
- Myriam Mihindou's "Praesentia" co-produced with Crac Occitanie Sète in 2024.
- "Au nom du nom" co-produced with Rencontres d'Arles.
- Paul Kodjo exhibition "Photoromance" to debut at Arles summer 2026 then Palais de Tokyo October 2026.
- Palais de Tokyo will close for 18 months from October 2027 for renovations.
- A "quinquennale" will feature 60-100 artists in unconventional venues during closure.
- Centre Pompidou and Cnap are partners for the quinquennale.
- Désanges rejects a single guest curator for the quinquennale.
- Palais de Tokyo receives €8M state subsidy and must raise €8M from partnerships and privatizations.
- Privatizations cause 165 days of closure per year, per Emma Lavigne.
- Court of Auditors 2023 report noted conflicting public service and profitability mandates.
Entities
Artists
- Jakob Lena Knebl
- Ashley Hans Scheirl
- Rammellzee
- Vivian Suter
- Melvin Edwards
- Pauline Curnier Jardin
- Valérie John
- Mohamed Bourouissa
- Myriam Mihindou
- Paul Kodjo
Institutions
- Palais de Tokyo
- Deichtorhallen Hamburg
- Centre d'arts plastiques contemporains (CAPC)
- Musée d'art contemporain de Bordeaux
- Museion Bolzano
- MAAT Lisbon
- Carré d'Art Nîmes
- Fridericianum Kassel
- Kunsthalle Bern
- Museo Reina Sofía Madrid
- CARA New York
- LaM Villeneuve-d'Ascq
- Crac Occitanie Sète
- Rencontres d'Arles
- Centre Pompidou
- Cnap
- Le Journal des Arts
- Cour des comptes
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Hamburg
- Germany
- Bordeaux
- Bolzano
- Italy
- Lisbon
- Portugal
- Nîmes
- Kassel
- Bern
- Switzerland
- Madrid
- Spain
- New York
- United States
- Villeneuve-d'Ascq
- Sète
- Arles
- La Défense
- Panthéon