Palais de Tokyo

The Palais de Tokyo, located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, is a hub for modern and contemporary art. Facing the Trocadéro and near the River Seine, it is split into two wings. The eastern wing, owned by the City of Paris, houses the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris, while the western wing, owned by the French state, hosts the Palais de Tokyo / Site de création contemporaine, the largest museum in France dedicated to temporary exhibitions of contemporary art. Inaugurated in 1937 by President Lebrun, the building was originally named Palais des Musées d'art moderne. Over the years, it has hosted various establishments and creative spaces, including the Palais du cinéma and the Centre national de la photographie. In 2002, it was relaunched as the Site de création contemporaine, focusing on emerging French and international art. The building was expanded in 2012 by architects Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal. The Palais de Tokyo does not have a permanent collection but is known for producing all of its exhibitions, making it the largest non-collecting contemporary art museum in Europe. It has been a trendsetter in the art world since its inception, with directors such as Nicolas Bourriaud, Jérôme Sans, and Emma Lavigne contributing to its reputation. The museum also ran a residency program, Le Pavillon, from 2001 to 2017, fostering over 130 international artists.