The Cneai

The Cneai is dedicated to the production and dissemination of contemporary art and is hosted at the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris (14th arrondissement) in the Maison internationale. The Cité internationale universitaire de Paris allows for the intersection of perspectives from around the world, reflecting a world rich in its complexity. Hospitality and experience are foundational there. The Cneai reinvents itself as an archipelago, a network of spaces, like permanent or temporary outposts, reminiscent of shared or pirate zones, places of experimentation or detachment.

The Cneai possesses a floating workshop-residence, the Maison Flottante, moored at the Seine quay in Poses, Normandy. It calls for mobility and residency outside urban centers, through a decentralized movement and an adventurous dynamic. The Cneai also develops regional programming through the Maison volantes, which land at the invitation of schools in the Île-de-France region, as well as long-distance programs housed by the Maison monde. With the artist always at the heart of the art center’s focus, the Maison boîte provides tailor-made support for cultural and artistic actors and organizations.

An art center…

… in motion

Mobility and the intermingling of cultures it engenders punctuate our lives. The act of setting off to explore the world resembles more than ever an emancipatory act. In this adventure, the connection with the Other becomes an essential guide. What do we leave behind when we depart? What do we find upon arrival? What possibilities of individualization arise from it? How do we apprehend parallel worlds? Could the journey traveled not be the true destination? How can we traverse this already traveled path? The Cité internationale universitaire de Paris, as a reflection of a complex world facing disquieting events, composed of interdependent and interconnected localities, is founded on hospitality. Experience is paramount. From the west wing of the Maison internationale, anchoring points are linked to form a networked archipelago of permanent or temporary locations, evoking shared or pirate zones, places of experimentation or detachment. The Maison Flottante in Poses, Normandy, and partner localities in the Île-de-France region and worldwide invite artists and all audiences to engage in reflection and creative endeavors. These multiple spaces call for mobility in a decentralized movement and an adventurous dynamic.

… with solidarity

Movement lies at the heart of the desires and hopes of populations in search of inspiration. From home to the metropolis, from island to continent, our relationship with the body, the environment, and society generates movements, journeys in pursuit of waves that transcend reality. But as crises unfold and nations turn to inward positions, how can we envision itinerancy? What is the societal and ecological responsibility of contemporary art? What balance exists between globalization and local circuits? How do we conceive of hospitality and reception? Each year, an associated artist is invited to interact with the programming and create within this context. The artist indicates the direction to be taken, mirroring the surrounding and constitutive mobility. Together, we strive to interrogate the state of the world through art, which is essential for elevating thoughts, fostering a desire to feel, share, and innovate.

… without boundaries

At the heart of the Île-de-France region, the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris represents a sprawling and stimulating platform where cross-cultural perspectives are exchanged from around the world. For nearly a century, it has welcomed “young talents” in various houses that host these transient residents. Within this context, the Cneai positions itself as a catalyst for encounters, aiming to engage in art-based exchanges about the world, discovering it, reinventing it, dreaming it, criticizing it, restarting it. Moreover, all interested residents, from the Seine-Eure metropolitan area to people encountered in Hong Kong, Sweden, the Azores, the Arctic, or elsewhere, are invited to participate in the programs. Likewise, all members of the team and the association come together in collective programming.

The Team

Ann Stouvenel – Director
Bastien Sbuttoni – Administrator
Lou von der Heyde – Project Manager and Curator
Cyrielle André – Audience + Development Manager

Interns throughout the year:

Alexandra Koné – December 2022 to March 2023 – Edition & Mediation
Océane Mena – December 2022 to June 2023 – Communication & Mediation
Vincent Neveux – May 2023 to July 2023 – Administration & Programming

Board of Directors

Steven Hearn – President
Philippe Bissières – Vice President
Jean-Luc de Feuardent – Treasurer
Francis Mary – Secretary

Administrators:
Marie-Christine Davy
Dorith Galuz
Nathalie Lacroix
Romain Leclère
Jacques-François Marchandise
Fabrice de Pontfrache

The Community

The Cneai is supported by the Ministry of Culture – DRAC Île-de-France, the Île-de-France Region, the City of Paris, the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris, the Normandy Region, the Seine-Eure Agglomeration Community, the Eure Department, and the City of Poses.
The Cneai’s programs are made possible through artistic and scientific partnerships in France with ADAGP, Institut français, Centre Pompidou – Festival Le Cinéma du réel, Frac Grand Large – Hauts-de-France, Frac Picardie, Frac Sud – Cité de l’art contemporain, BAG bakeryartgallery, Le Générateur, Maison des Arts Grand Quevilly, Multiple Art Days, Fonds d’Art Contemporain – Paris Collection, and the Denise and Yona Friedman Endowment Fund.
The Cneai also benefits from international partnerships with the K11 Art Foundation, Videotage HK, and the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau.
Within the academic and higher education sphere, the Cneai collaborates with the Créteil Rectorate and the Versailles Rectorate. Finally, it works closely with several educational institutions, including the Descartes General and Technological High School in Antony, the Claude Nicolas Ledoux Polyvalent High School in Pavillons-sous-Bois, the Auguste Perdonnet Vocational High School in Thorigny-sur-Marne, the Romain Rolland Polyvalent High School in Goussainville, and the Henri Wallon High School in Aubervilliers.
As a member of DCA (French Association for the Development of Contemporary Art Centers) and TRAM (Contemporary Art Network Paris/Île-de-France), the Cneai actively participates in promoting and evolving the artistic and cultural landscape.