Centre Culturel Irlandais
Right near the Pantheon on “Rue des Irlandais” sits the Centre Culturel Irlandais, a contemporary arts centre housed in a beautiful 18th century building that was formerly an Irish seminary.
The Centre Culturel Irlandais (CCI) is at the heart of promoting Irish culture and arts in Europe. Alongside exhibitions, events and performances the CCI offers residencies to 40 artists a year and is therefore a key resource for Irish artists and thinkers to promote their work in Europe, and be inspired by the Centre and by the city.
Wealth of Irish cultural output
The Centre’s communications director, Rosetta Beaugendre explains that the primary aim of the CCI is to attract a French and international audience, thereby promoting the huge wealth of Irish cultural output to new audiences across Europe. Of course, she adds that they also welcome their many Irish visitors.
For Irish people who have been living abroad for some time, the CCI is a place where they can reconnect with Ireland and stay engaged with current events and contemporary Ireland through performance, debate and exhibitions.
Connect with Ireland
Beaugendre says that these events can be an important way to connect with Ireland as it really is, as opposed to an idealised or stereotyped version, and this encourages a renewed, evolving and invigorating connection with Ireland.
“We consider ourselves to be a place of dialogue. We encourage open, organised debates. We try to integrate talking, but also musicians or other art forms, to bring in the expressive side as well,” she says.
The CCI exhibits and promotes all art forms. With the Olympics being held in Paris in 2024, the focus for the first several months of the year at the CCI will be on exhibitions and talks related to sports and the links between sports and artistic expression.
Contemporary programming
For St Patrick’s Day 2024, they will have an exhibition focused on GAA, while also showing Irish films such as documentaries about Sinéad O’Connor and Irish traditional music.
“We hold readings with contemporary Irish authors. We have lots of scope there, because there are so many great authors coming out of Ireland. Theatre as well — we work with Fishamble: The New Play Company. We've worked with Fishamble for nearly 21 years,” says Beaugrande.
She adds that audiences are often especially drawn to their music programming, perhaps because music is accessible across all languages. In 2023, the CCI featured many musicians, such as pianist Aidan Chan and folk artist Susan O’Neill and this will continue into 2024 with numerous Irish traditional musicians performing.
Strengthening partnerships
Funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has been absolutely essential to the CCI and its growth. Beaugendre says the CCI has been lucky to be an important part of the network of Irish cultural organisations that the Irish government has been promoting.
She explains that apart from the crucial funding, DFA helps to connect the Centre to other Irish cultural institutions, strengthening partnerships across the world and leading to collaborations for events such as the Ulysses Centenary celebrations in 2022.
“We've now had 21 years experience in Paris, and we have hugely benefited from DFA’s support," she says.