Centre Pompidou reopens with ambitious plans for national and international expansion

On January 31, 1977, exactly thirty years ago, the Centre Georges-Pompidou opened its doors, instantly famous for the audacious architecture by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers. A prototype of the multifunctional structure at its opening, "Beaubourg" houses the Musée National d'Art Moderne, the Bibliothèque Publique d'Information, the Centre de Création Industrielle, a specialized documentation center, contemporary galleries, and an intensive program of performances and forums. The Centre Pompidou partly filled France's cultural equipment gap, at least in Paris. Bruno Racine, president of the Centre Pompidou, shares his options and wishes for national and international development. The April issue will feature Alfred Pacquement on exhibition projects, the new hang, and upcoming cultural events.