Grenoble's Le Magasin rebrands as Magasin Horizons under new director

Le Magasin, one of France's most prestigious contemporary art centers in Grenoble, is undergoing a radical transformation under director Béatrice Josse, appointed in 2016. The institution has been renamed Magasin Horizons, dropping its 32-year-old name to signal a shift beyond mere nomenclature. Founded in 1986, Le Magasin was the first contemporary art center housed in a former industrial building, known for experimental exhibitions and a renowned curator training school. However, it faced turmoil in 2015 when director Yves Aupetitallot (who led since 1996) was fired due to environmental incompatibilities, causing national uproar. Josse, former director of FRAC Lorraine, was appointed to rebuild the institution. Two years into her tenure, her project is unveiled: Horizons emphasizes collective culture over object worship, moving away from monographic shows toward collaborative practices. The center aims to rethink its social role and reintegrate into local and international artistic communities, returning to its founding mission of being by and for artists. Magasin Horizons will become a multidisciplinary space for contemporary art, theater, and dance, collaborating with local entities. The École will transform from a didactic space into an arena for cross-disciplinary dialogue, hosting seminars, conferences, and research on social change and professional practices.