Villa Arson
Encyclopedia
The Villa Arson, also referred to as the École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts à la Villa Arson (National School of Fine Arts at the Villa Arson), is a French art museum, elite school
and research institution
for contemporary art
, located in Nice
, France
. It is home to the École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts de Nice (National School of Fine Arts of Nice) and the Centre Nationale d'Art Contemporain (National Centre for Contemporary Art), and was created under a ministerial charter in 1972 by the Ministry of Culture
.
offered the former home of the Arson family to the school; and an expansion of the two acre property to create an international fine art
school, designed by Michel Marot, is completed in 1970. The Centre Nationale d'Art Contemporain was established in 1971, and the École and the Centre were officially inaugurated under the name "la Villa Arson" in 1972 by then Minister of Cultural Affairs, Jacques Duhamel. In 1981, la Villa Arson celebrated its centenary; and in 2002, only 30 years after its inauguration, it is designated a grands établissement
for contemporary art
by the Ministry of Culture
.
, and occupies a vast area of 23,000 m²
. The site overlooks the city and the coastline of the French Riviera
and is designed to emphasis its view, as-well-as vegetation and natural light, with the wide use of courtyards, terraces and gardens.
Grandes écoles
The grandes écoles of France are higher education establishments outside the main framework of the French university system. The grandes écoles select students for admission based chiefly on national ranking in competitive written and oral exams...
and research institution
Grands établissements
The grands établissements are French public institutions under ministerial charter under the administrative category referred to as Établissements publics à caractère scientifique, culturel et professionnel...
for contemporary art
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
, located in Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It is home to the École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts de Nice (National School of Fine Arts of Nice) and the Centre Nationale d'Art Contemporain (National Centre for Contemporary Art), and was created under a ministerial charter in 1972 by the Ministry of Culture
Minister of Culture (France)
The Minister of Culture is, in the Government of France, the cabinet member in charge of national museums and monuments; promoting and protecting the arts in France and abroad; and managing the national archives and regional "maisons de culture"...
.
History
La Villa Arson was founded in 1881 as the École Nationale des Arts Décoratifs. It retained the name for 89 years, until it was changed to the École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts de Nice in 1970. In 1965, the city of NiceNice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
offered the former home of the Arson family to the school; and an expansion of the two acre property to create an international fine art
Fine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
school, designed by Michel Marot, is completed in 1970. The Centre Nationale d'Art Contemporain was established in 1971, and the École and the Centre were officially inaugurated under the name "la Villa Arson" in 1972 by then Minister of Cultural Affairs, Jacques Duhamel. In 1981, la Villa Arson celebrated its centenary; and in 2002, only 30 years after its inauguration, it is designated a grands établissement
Grands établissements
The grands établissements are French public institutions under ministerial charter under the administrative category referred to as Établissements publics à caractère scientifique, culturel et professionnel...
for contemporary art
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
by the Ministry of Culture
Minister of Culture (France)
The Minister of Culture is, in the Government of France, the cabinet member in charge of national museums and monuments; promoting and protecting the arts in France and abroad; and managing the national archives and regional "maisons de culture"...
.
Location
la Villa Arson is located on a hill in the neighbourhood of Saint Barthélemy, in the northern district of the city of NiceNice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
, and occupies a vast area of 23,000 m²
M²
m2 may mean:*Square metre, an SI measure of area*m2 , the ambient project of German electronic musician and DJ Mathis MootzM2 may mean:*M squared, a measure of laser beam quality*M2 , by Marcus Miller...
. The site overlooks the city and the coastline of the French Riviera
French Riviera
The Côte d'Azur, pronounced , often known in English as the French Riviera , is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, also including the sovereign state of Monaco...
and is designed to emphasis its view, as-well-as vegetation and natural light, with the wide use of courtyards, terraces and gardens.
See also
- Grandes écolesGrandes écolesThe grandes écoles of France are higher education establishments outside the main framework of the French university system. The grandes écoles select students for admission based chiefly on national ranking in competitive written and oral exams...
- Grands établissementsGrands établissementsThe grands établissements are French public institutions under ministerial charter under the administrative category referred to as Établissements publics à caractère scientifique, culturel et professionnel...
- Education in FranceEducation in FranceThe French educational system is highly centralized, organized, and ramified. It is divided into three different stages:* the primary education ;* secondary education ;...