Barco

Founded in Paris, France, in 1990, Culturespaces is the largest private organization managing public French museums and one of the key players in Europe’s cultural landscape. What makes the Culturespaces art experiences so distinctive is the adaptive re-use of old public spaces and the transformation of these infrastructures into innovative giant video canvasses.

According to Bruno Monnier, CEO at Culturespaces, “the art world is still very confined and only a small part of the world population is interested in visiting museums. Our mission is to make art more accessible to a wider and younger public. With the creation of our unique inclusive digital experiences, based on video, music and interactivity, we want to invite visitors of all backgrounds for a fascinating immersive journey into the artistic universe.” The partnership with an international technology company like Barco shows that Culturespaces is determined to spread its passion and expertise throughout France, but also the rest of the world.

A long-standing collaboration

In 2016 the French cultural organization communicated on its first agreement with Barco on the supply of 170 video projectors to enable immersive multimedia experiences at Carrières des Lumières museum in Les Baux-de-Provence, and Atelier des Lumières in Paris. Today the companies are announcing a renewal of their successful collaboration: for the next three years Barco will be the sole projection technology partner for existing and future projects, including the new Bassins de Lumières in Bordeaux’ former submarine base (to open in Spring 2020), and with an eye on further global expansion. In the short term, the firms have agreed on the delivery of 168 new laser projectors and a Barco service contract covering the entire equipment fleet.

“Our goal is immersing visitors, not impressing them with the amount of technology in the set-up. Technology is actually just the tool.” states Augustin de Cointet de Fillain, Director of Culturespaces Digital.  “But at the same time, the quality of the exhibition depends on the quality of the projection. In addition, our installations are often in particularly demanding spaces imposing a certain complexity. So we need the best of the best, and Barco really stands out for us as they offer the full package. We engage and co-create with each other and look together for the best solution that reinforces the content and expresses the art the way we intended to.”

Changing the museum experience

Barco and Culturespaces share the same vision when it comes to deploying stunning visitor experiences. “This is a quintessential example of how Barco wants to position itself in the themed entertainment market.” Jan de Witte, Barco CEO, adds: “Having such a close relationship with a partner who’s thought leader in this field is absolutely beneficiary for us as a technology company. Through the exchange of innovative ideas, we can focus on creating value-add visualization solutions enabling immersive digital story-telling and dynamic exhibitions. Together we can have an impact on the world of arts and change the museum experience forever, with a proposition that is scalable across the globe.”