After more than four years of reflection and work, marked by the challenges of the health crisis, Saint Gerald of Aurillac takes a major step forward with the inauguration of its Cultural Hub. This new space, designed to meet educational needs while also engaging with the local community, aims to be a multifunctional venue dedicated to creation, experimentation, and cultural exchange.
On March 13th, this inauguration formalized a strong ambition: to make Saint Géraud not only a center of excellence for teaching applied arts, design, and communication, but also a key cultural player in the Aurillac region.
A new space for teaching and creation
The idea for this center was born from a simple observation: the lack of a suitable venue for large-scale educational and cultural events. Until now, the institution did not have an amphitheater or a modular space that could accommodate meetings, conferences, shows, or exhibitions.
An existing building, which had not been used until then, was identified as a potential catalyst for transformation. After four and a half years of construction and an investment of 2.3 million euros (50 % of which was financed by The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and with the help of European Regional Development Fund (of €114,000), this ambitious project was able to see the light of day.
More than just an extension of existing infrastructure, the Saint Géraud Cultural Hub is a true educational tool designed to support the evolution of professions in design, applied arts, and communication.
A FabLab and an amphitheater to enrich training
One of the key elements of this hub is the integration of a FabLab, a unique creation and experimentation space. Designed to allow students to develop transversal skills, this innovative workshop includes:
✔ Multimedia workshops for digital and audiovisual production,
A space dedicated to screen printing and printing techniques,
A model and volume workshop for design and architecture experiments.
«We've created an educational project around this space, specifically a kind of FabLab that can host workshops in addition to the amphitheater,» explains Bernard Laurent, the head of the institution, thus highlighting the educational ambition of the project.
A FabLab and an amphitheater to enrich training
One of the key elements of this hub is the integration of a FabLab, a unique creation and experimentation space. Designed to allow students to develop transversal skills, this innovative workshop includes:
✔ Multimedia workshops for digital and audiovisual production,
A space dedicated to screen printing and printing techniques,
A model and volume workshop for design and architecture experiments.
«We've created an educational project around this space, specifically a kind of FabLab that can host workshops in addition to the amphitheater,» explains Bernard Laurent, the head of the institution, thus highlighting the educational ambition of the project.
Local roots and an opening towards cultural actors
From its inception, the Cultural Hub was conceived as a place for exchange with local stakeholders, and it is intended to have an impact far beyond the institution itself. It therefore welcomes external speakers and encourages collaborations with major cultural organizations.
Among the partners already involved in this initiative are, among others, the Aurillac Museums, Le Parapluie (national center for street arts), Eclat, and the Coopérative de Mai in Clermont-Ferrand. These collaborations will enrich the educational offerings and provide students with unprecedented opportunities.
One of the hub's strengths is its amphitheater, a fully equipped space for hosting conferences, meetings, and screenings. Upon its opening, it hosted the professional meetings of the Aurillac Agglo Comic Strip Festival, thus marking its immediate integration into the local cultural fabric.
With a lecture series already in place, this space will become a reference point for reflection and exchange around artistic and cultural practices.
A new momentum for Saint Géraud's identity
The opening of this center marks a significant evolution in the institution's identity. Long perceived only as «the communication high school,» Saint Géraud today asserts its vocation as a High School and School of Design, Crafts, AND Communication, with a clear desire to attract new talent and new training programs.
With this in mind, a complete overhaul of its visual identity and name is currently underway to better reflect the diversity and richness of its training programs.
With this new infrastructure, Saint Géraud is positioning itself as a key educational and cultural player in Aurillac. This center, conceived as a place of innovation and exchange, perfectly embodies the evolution of creative and artistic professions, while fostering an opening towards the professional world and the region.
The inauguration on March 13, 2024, thus marks the beginning of a new era for Saint-Géraud, where teaching, creation, and cultural dissemination are intertwined to shape the talents of tomorrow.
A look back at the event: ©Axel.cphotos | ©Célia Limbertie | ©Manon Couve
