exhibition curating and production — water
Know before you apply
- Curators with at least one exhibition produced
- Curator duos with a cross-disciplinary partner
- Curators interested in water and industrial heritage
- Must be able to issue an invoice
- Two-stage selection with site visit
- €150 stipend for unsuccessful finalists
La Filature is a contemporary art venue located in Varennes-sous-Dun, in the Charolais-Brionnais region: a wool spinning mill (1889-2022) built on a Renaissance mill, which was powered by water for three centuries.
The association that has run it since 2023 has taken a gamble on contemporary art in the countryside, at the heart of an industrial heritage site. Along the way, through 11 exhibitions, it has explored various forms, notably the panorama of fifty regional artists with "Opus 50" (2023), photography with "Improbable Certainties" (2024), and a monograph with Frédéric Diart (2025). In 2026, two directions emerged: contemporary textile creation, with "Living Among the Stars of Bethlehem" by Delphine Dénéreaz, and exhibitions that pose a question rather than a theme, such as "When Art Forgets Its Name," on art and madness.
This exhibition on water opens a new cycle dedicated to the major issues of our time.
The place
800 m² of exhibition space divided into six areas, including one of 350 m²
Abundant natural light thanks to numerous north-facing windows
A 3,000 m² garden on the riverbank
The millrace and the millpond are still there.
The project may occupy all or part of the spaces
Plans and technical specifications sent upon request
The works displayed indoors are insured; pieces may be installed outdoors, but are not insured and must withstand the elements.
The exhibition
Water is scarce, overflowing, contested, and shared. Yet it never ceases to amaze us. Matter, image, memory of the place, labor, invention, utopia: so many perspectives that benefit from intersecting. We seek a personal vision rather than a mere illustration.
The number of artists or collectives is flexible, to be adjusted to the project and budget. The exhibition can bring together visual arts and design, existing works and pieces created specifically for the space. The presence of artists from the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, in dialogue with artists from other backgrounds, will be appreciated. A connection to the history of the mill and spinning mill is welcome, but not required.