Le Méta

What Le Méta does

Le Méta is a Centre Dramatique National (CDN) located in Poitiers, France, one of approximately 40 national dramatic centers designated by the French Ministry of Culture. The organization operates as a publicly funded performing arts institution under the artistic direction of Pascale Daniel-Lacombe, delivering theatrical creation, production, presentation, and cultural mediation across the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. The CDN pursues a public-service mission rather than commercial profitability, structured as a nonprofit association under French law (loi 1901).

The CDN's core offering is its seasonal programming (Saison), structured around four annual thematic cycles—Rencontres d'Automne, d'Hiver, de Printemps, and d'Été—and comprising performances, artist residencies, and co-productions. The portfolio includes dedicated sub-products: the youth festival "Le Printemps des Petits et Grands," the contemporary writing festival "TEXTES!," literary brunches (Brunch littéraire), ephemeral public-space performances ("Pas de côté"), discussion forums ("Café de la pensée"), radio-theater projects (Radio Live), and social dance events (Les Méta-platines). Programming is delivered across multiple venues, with the new Méta Up headquarters—inaugurated October 2024 at 2 rue Neuma Fechine Borges on the Université de Poitiers campus—serving as the primary performance space, supplemented by Méta QG at Confort Moderne and a distributed network of regional partner venues including TAP Scène nationale, Centre d'Animation de Beaulieu, La M3Q, and Salle de la Blaiserie.

Le Méta's revenue model combines two streams. The dominant stream is recurring public subsidies from DRAC Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles), Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Ville de Poitiers, and the French Ministry of Culture. The secondary stream is ticket sales processed through the online billetterie platform (billetterie.legilog.fr), with pricing that varies by event type—some events free with registration, others paid, with occasional sell-outs (e.g., 'Bad Block') indicating demand-based pricing power on specific productions. Customer segments span the general theater-going public, youth and families, professional theater companies seeking co-production support (including Compagnie Théâtre au Corps, Compagnie Fictive, and national peers such as Le Quai CDN Angers), conservatory and university students, and local community associations. Distribution and audience development rely on the website (le-meta.fr), Instagram (@le_meta_cdn), email newsletter, seasonal brochures, and dedicated press/professional relations.

Name

Le Méta

Legal name

Le Méta - Centre Dramatique National Poitiers Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Website

https://le-meta.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Le Méta is a French Centre Dramatique National (CDN) in Poitiers that produces contemporary theater, artist residencies, festivals, and community outreach programs across the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region under the direction of Pascale Daniel-Lacombe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Center

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts (MPAGABAI)

Keywords

• Live theater performances
• Performing arts center
• Theater festival programming
• Artist residency programs
• Contemporary dramatic arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Poitiers

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales: Revenue generated from ticket sales for theatrical performances, festivals, and events through online billetterie platform (billetterie.legilog.fr).
2. Public subsidies and funding: As a Centre Dramatique National, Le Méta receives public funding from DRAC (Ministère de la Culture), Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Ville de Poitiers, and other governmental bodies to support artistic creation and operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Le Méta is a Centre Dramatique National (CDN) that produces, programs, and presents contemporary theatrical performances, festivals, and cultural events across multiple venues in Poitiers and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Its core activity is seasonal theatrical programming organized into four annual thematic cycles (Rencontres d'Automne, d'Hiver, de Printemps, d'Été), supplemented by artist residencies, co-productions with partner companies, youth/family festivals, and community mediation programs.

Product overview

Le Méta is a Centre Dramatique National (CDN) — a national dramatic theater — located in Poitiers, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, directed by Pascale Daniel-Lacombe. Its offering is a multi-format cultural program centered on live performance, contemporary theater, and community engagement. The core product is its seasonal programming (Saison), organized around four annual thematic periods (Rencontres d'Automne, d'Hiver, de Printemps, d'Été), featuring performances, artist residencies, and artistic events. Key sub-products include the youth festival Le Printemps des Petits et Grands, the theater writing festival TEXTES!, Radio Live (radio-theater projects), literary brunches (Brunch littéraire), discussion forums (Café de la pensée), and ephemeral city performances (Pas de côté). The CDN operates its main venue Méta Up (inaugurated October 2024) and the ancillary Méta QG at Confort Moderne, hosting co-productions and events. The institution's activities extend to artist residencies (at Méta Up and Villa Bloch), community outreach (La Médiation), and collaborative programming with regional cultural partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Saison (Season Programming) The CDN's seasonal programming cycle organized into four thematic periods (Rencontres d'Automne, d'Hiver, de Printemps, d'Été), featuring performances, residencies, and artistic events across multiple venues in Poitiers and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Approximately 30-50 productions are hosted annually.
• Festival TEXTES! A theater text festival dedicated to contemporary dramatic writing, featuring readings, round tables, and encounters with authors.
• Le Printemps des Petits et Grands A youth and family theater festival offering performances, workshops, and artistic activities for children and families, held annually in May with both free and paid events.
• Radio Live A radio-theater project combining live sound, video, and performance, exploring themes of identity and belonging with young participants from conflict zones.
• Brunch littéraire Literary brunch events pairing public readings and performances with food, often involving conservatory students and contemporary texts.
• Café de la pensée Discussion forums for youth and young adults exploring contemporary societal themes through dialogue with artists, philosophers, and experts.
• Pas de côté Ephemeral musical and poetic performances held in public spaces across the city, led by Pascal Sangla, combining music, invited guests, and audience interaction.
• Les MétaPlatines Disco and dance evenings held at Méta QG, featuring DJs and music programming as part of the CDN's social and cultural events.
• Résidences de création (Artist Residencies) The CDN hosts and supports artist residencies for the development of new theatrical works, with dedicated spaces including Méta Up and Villa Bloch.
• La Médiation (Community Outreach) Community outreach and audience development programs connecting the CDN with local residents, schools, and social organizations across Poitiers.

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TAP - Théâtre Auditorium de PoitierscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor regional partner venue for co-productions and co-presentations. Multiple performances listed jointly with Le Méta, including 'Vouloir gagner', 'La Cerisaie' student showcase, and 'Lieux Communs'.
• Université de PoitierscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus host for Méta Up venue and multiple student-oriented programming including Maison des étudiants events and library-based performances.
• Conservatoire de Grand PoitierscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing educational partnership for student theater training, with annual end-of-year student performances hosted at Le Méta venues.
• Centre d'Animation de BeaulieucoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKey neighborhood partner venue hosting regular performances and co-productions including 'Andromaque', 'Phèdre', and youth programming.
• OARA - Office Artistique de la Région Nouvelle-AquitainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional arts office providing coproduction support and artistic development funding for Nouvelle-Aquitaine productions.
• La M3Q - Maison des 3 QuartiersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNeighborhood cultural center hosting youth performances and community-oriented programming.
• Villa BlochminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist residency venue supporting creative development with dedicated workspace for artists-in-residence.
• Conservatoire de Bordeaux Jacques ThibaudminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-regional conservatory partnership for the 'Wakefields' production involving students from both Poitiers and Bordeaux.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Le Quai - CDN Angers: Centre Dramatique National in Angers operating under the same French Ministry of Culture designation, with similar public funding structure, co-production model, and contemporary theater programming. Already an active co-production partner with Le Méta.
• Tréteaux de France - CDN: National CDN focused on touring theatrical productions across France, including youth programming. Shares the CDN designation model and co-production partnerships with Le Méta (e.g., 'KiLLT' co-production).
• CDN de Normandie (Comédie de Caen): Centre Dramatique National in Caen with comparable CDN designation, public funding model, and contemporary theater creation mission. Represents similar scale and regional cultural anchor role in Normandy.
• CDN de Tours: Centre Dramatique National in Tours operating under similar French CDN framework with comparable budget scale, programming breadth, and regional focus in Centre-Val de Loire.
• CDN de Bordeaux: Centre Dramatique National in Bordeaux (TnBA) operating as a major regional CDN with broader programming scale and budget. Already collaborates with Le Méta on cross-regional productions (e.g., 'Wakefields' with Conservatoire de Bordeaux).
• La Comédie de Saint-Étienne - CDN: Centre Dramatique National in Saint-Étienne with similar CDN designation, public funding base, and contemporary theater creation focus. Comparable regional cultural anchor role in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

Regional players

• TAP - Théâtre Auditorium de Poitiers: Local Scène nationale in Poitiers operating in the same geographic market with complementary performing arts programming. Functions as both a regional peer and active co-presentation partner with Le Méta.

Broad incumbents

• Théâtre National Populaire (TNP): National theater in Villeurbanne/Lyon operating at significantly larger scale than Le Méta, but sharing the public funding model and mission of theatrical creation and dissemination in France.
• Comédie-Française: France's oldest and most prestigious national theater, operating under public funding with theatrical creation and touring mission. Represents the upper bound of the CDN institutional spectrum.

Others

• OARA - Office Artistique de la Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine: Regional arts funding body that provides co-production support to Le Méta. Functions as an ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor, but shapes the regional theater landscape.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/le_meta_cdn
• Facebookfacebook.com/LeMetaCDNPoitiersNouvelleAquitaine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Le Méta