Centre Pompidou

In 1969, French President Georges Pompidou decided to give France a unique place: a center for art and culture, which would house both the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art with an international dimension and a large public library (later known as Bpi), a center for industrial creation, and a center for musical research and creation (Ircam), all within the same building in the heart of the capital. As great art lovers, the President and his wife were also fervent advocates for the democratization of art. For Claude and Georges Pompidou, the Centre Pompidou should be a place where all disciplines meet, where artists can engage in conversation with the public. It should also support emerging art scenes and initiate and stimulate debates. The gigantic construction work began in May 1972 with two young architects, Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, at the helm. Unfortunately, the President died in 1974 before he could complete the Centre Pompidou. It was inaugurated by his successor Valery Giscard d'Estaing in the presence of his wife Claude Pompidou on January 31, 1977.

Right after its opening, it was a great success. Whether curious, laymen or professionals, from near or far, the Centre Pompidou welcomed everyone. The Centre Pompidou saw itself as a "culture machine" that eliminated the boundaries between disciplines and between generations, and quickly became one of the five most visited monuments in Paris.

Picture: Von --Reinraum 00:37, 23. Feb. 2012 (CET) - Eigenaufnahme, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6781070