Revealed in April by The worldinstallation of the future House of African Worlds (MansA) at Monnaie de Paris, quai de Conti, in 6.e district, becomes clearer at reduced noise. According to our information, the employees of the unit under Bercy’s supervision learned on October 15, during an extraordinary social and economic committee (CSE), that Matignon had validated this project whose outlines are still vague. The installation would target part of the east wing of the palace with its imposing neoclassical facade, namely the exhibition halls and adjacent offices.
“ The decision is not 200% confirmed, but it is going that way”we recognize at the Ministry of Economy. “Sharing spaces would increase the visibility of both units. There may be tourist interest, even if they are not the same subjects”argues Bercy, remembering that this “There is no question of merging the two institutions that will each retain their identity”. Mint employees do not see things that way. “Until now we have not made noise, but we cannot lose the cultural aspect that enhances our artistic productions”warns David Faillenet, trade union delegate of Ugict-CGT at Monnaie de Paris.
Cameroonian intellectual Achille Mbembe made the creation of a House of African Worlds one of the thirteen recommendations of the report he submitted in October 2021 to Emmanuel Macron to improve the degraded relations between France and Africa. A recommendation which, in the eyes of the political scientist, had ” it got the most massive support, both on the African side and on the French side “. Renamed MansA in 2023, this structure supported by the ministries of culture and foreign affairs as well as the Elysée sought a base in inner Paris. The teams looked for a while at the Gaité lyrique, finally awarded to a consortium of actors from the field of culture and solidarity, then at the Espace Cardin, where the Théâtre de la Concorde has since been installed.
An idea from Rachida Dati
MansA then fell back onto the glass building of the Cartier Foundation in the 14the arrondissement, which must migrate in 2025 to the former Louvre des antiques. The place, however, proves to be too cramped for a structure that aims to be both a showcase for the talents of Africa and its diaspora, a springboard for the voices of tomorrow, and a resource place for entrepreneurship and culture. It seems that it is Rachida Dati, who, once appointed Minister of Culture, had the idea to anchor the Quai de Conti project. At the risk of shaking the august institution that minted the coin since the 18th century.e century and recently made the medals for the Olympics.
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