- Empty cart.
- Continuer vos achats
The Soulages Museum: A Cultural and Economic Lighthouse for Aveyron
Mise à jour 3 juin 2024 par Redak
Ten years ago, the Soulages museum opened its doors in Rodez, a few steps from the majestic red sandstone cathedral. Dedicated to Pierre Soulages, undisputed master of contemporary art and“outrenoir”, this museum has transformed the perception of Aveyron, becoming a pillar of regional tourism development.
A Controversial Start, an Undeniable Success
The inauguration of the museum’s massive oxidized steel walls, the work of Catalan architects from the RCR agency, took place in a climate of skepticism. In 2009, a survey revealed that 83% of the population was against this project. The criticism focused on the cost, considered exorbitant, and the incomprehension of Soulages’ work.
Christian Teyssèdre, mayor of Rodez and president of the agglomeration, remembers these reluctances. “The arguments were: we don’t understand anything, it costs too much and there will be no one there,” summarizes Benoît Decron, historical curator of the museum.
Ten years later, the results are clear. The average attendance is 130,000 visitors per year, well beyond the 40 to 70,000 hoped for. “The museum has put Rodez in the spotlight,” underlines Didier Arino, general director of the Protourisme firm.
Comparable Attractiveness to Bilbao
The impact of the Soulages museum on Rodez is often compared to that of the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. With 1.37 million visitors in ten years, the Aveyron museum has not only attracted the curious, but has also redefined the image of Rodez and its department.
“This made it possible to add this very, very emblematic cultural card to the range of assets of Aveyron,” explains Arnaud Viala, president of the department. Visitors are not content with Rodez; they also explored the surrounding area, notably Conques, where Soulages designed the stained glass windows of the Sainte-Foy abbey church.
A Center for Cultural and Economic Development
The museum is more than just a tourist attraction. It has also catalyzed investments in cultural and sporting infrastructure. “Following the museum, the city renovated its stadium and installed a multiplex cinema, thus creating a unique grouping of sporting and cultural facilities,” says the mayor of Rodez.
Despite these successes, the mayor believes that the museum can still do better. With 12 million tourists passing 100 km from Rodez each year, it hopes to attract 200,000 annual visitors.
A Growing International Notoriety
The Soulages museum, unique in the world, benefits from the increased notoriety of the artist since his death in October 2022. “The museum has not yet reached cruising speed,” estimates the president of the department. With 25% of visitors coming from Aveyron, 20% from Occitanie (excluding Aveyron), 50% from France and 5% from abroad, the share of international visitors is constantly increasing.
The museum therefore still has immense potential to exploit. “There are many things to imagine to ensure the development of a museum which is still only a baby at ten years,” concludes Mr. Viala.
Towards a Promising Future
The Soulages museum asserts itself as a key player in the economic and cultural development of Aveyron. Its success exceeds initial expectations, but ambitions for the future remain high. The challenge now is to strengthen its international influence and achieve even greater attendance, thus consolidating Rodez’s place on the world tourist map.
