The Wind Tunnel

What The Wind Tunnel does

La Soufflerie (marketed in English as "The Wind Tunnel") is a publicly funded French performing arts venue located in Rezé, Loire-Atlantique, near Nantes. Established in 2016 as an EPCC (Établissement Public de Coopération Culturelle), it operates three physical venues in Rezé: L'Auditorium (274 seated + 7 PMR spaces, designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti and inaugurated 2016), La Barakason (a former MJC created in 1998, co-managed by La Soufflerie, with 411 standing capacity), and Le Théâtre. The venue is recognized as a "scène conventionnée d'intérêt national, mention Art et création" by the French State's Ministry of Culture (DRAC), funding it alongside the Ville de Rezé and the Département de Loire-Atlantique. It serves the general public, schools (over 2,500 students per season), vulnerable populations through healthcare/social partnerships, seniors, and external event organizers.

The venue's core products are ticketed performing arts programming across theater, dance, music, and circus; a year-round educational and participatory program (workshops, school projects, the Le K amateur choir of 80-85 singers, circus workshops, cooking and sewing ateliers); the annual "Soufflée du bocal" membership card offering ticket discounts and fee exemptions; and venue rental services for external organizers. Technologically, La Soufflerie runs a modest digital stack: the DIGITICK online ticketing platform, PAYBOX payment processing, and COLT server hosting. No proprietary technology, mobile app, or AI-driven features are present.

The business model is a hybrid of public subsidy and earned revenue. Public funding comes from the Ville de Rezé, the Département de Loire-Atlantique, and the French State (DRAC). Earned revenue is generated across three streams: ticket sales (€18-€33 per ticket, with €0.50 online processing fee), the Soufflée du bocal membership card (annual subscription, available in full and reduced-rate tiers), and venue space rental (Auditorium and Barakason to external event organizers). Pricing is tiered to maximize access: full adult rate, reduced rates for under-26, students, job seekers, RSA recipients, and disability cardholders, group rates (8+), partner organization rates, a solidarity rate for Rezé residents with low family quotient, and children's/youth mini tariffs. Some events are free (Allez Viens outdoor series, season opening). The marketing approach is direct-to-consumer via website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, email newsletter, and press kits for professionals.

Name

The Wind Tunnel

Legal name

La Soufflerie

Website

https://lasoufflerie.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

La Soufflerie is a publicly funded French performing arts venue (EPCC) in Rezé operating three venues (Auditorium, Barakason, Le Théâtre) with theater, dance, music, and circus programming, serving general audiences, 2,500+ students per season, vulnerable populations, and external event organizers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Live entertainment programming
• Venue space rental
• Cultural event hosting
• Artistic education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Rezé

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales: Revenue from selling tickets to performances across all venues (Auditorium, Barakason, Le Théâtre). Online sales via credit card with 0.50€ processing fee per ticket; cardholders exempt from fees.
2. Soufflé·e du bocal membership card: Annual membership card providing discounted ticket prices and fee exemptions. Valid for 1 year from purchase date.
3. Venue space rental: Rental of Auditorium (274 seated places) and Barakason (411 standing capacity) venues for external events, conferences, and performances. Includes technical equipment and general technician presence.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

La Soufflerie is a publicly funded performing arts venue operating the L'Auditorium (274 seats) and La Barakason (411 standing) venues in Rezé, France. It produces and presents a seasonal program of concerts, theater, dance, and circus performances, complemented by educational programming for schools, participatory workshops, and venue rental services for external organizers.

Product overview

La Soufflerie is a scène conventionnée d'intérêt national (national conventioned stage) and EPCC (Établissement Public de Coopération Culturelle) offering performing arts programming through two main venues: L'Auditorium (274-seat seated configuration) and La Barakason (411-person standing configuration). The venue provides space rental services for external organizers, a membership program (Carte Soufflé·e du Bocal) offering fee exemptions and discounts, and educational programming for schools reaching over 2,500 students annually. The venue is co-funded by the City of Rezé and Loire-Atlantique Department, with support from the French Ministry of Culture (DRAC).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• L'Auditorium Main performance venue with 274 seats plus 7 wheelchair-accessible spaces, a 12m x 9.20m stage, lobby with bar, dressing rooms for 49 people, and full technical infrastructure for hosting concerts, theater, and dance performances
• La Barakason Music venue in standing configuration with 411-person main hall capacity, club area with bar (120 persons), dressing rooms, kitchen, and multipurpose spaces suited to amplified concerts and informal events
• Space Rental Services Rental of L'Auditorium and La Barakason venues for external event organizers, artists, and companies, including technical equipment per technical sheets, presence of a general stage manager, and optional add-on equipment such as projectors and pianos
• Carte Soufflé·e du Bocal Annual membership card providing discounted ticket prices, exemption from online booking fees (€0.50 per ticket), and exchange privileges up to 48 hours before performances; available in full and reduced-rate versions for students, job seekers, and disabled cardholders, valid 1 year from purchase

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,500 students served per season through school programming
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Collectif La voie est librecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2026Co-organizer of the season opening event on September 20, 2026. Collaborative partner for community cultural events on the Esplanade Rosa Parks.
• La Petite Gare (librairie)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2026Co-organizer with Collectif La voie est libre and La Soufflerie for the season opening 26-27. Bookshop partner for literary events and book-related programming.
• Médiathèque DiderotminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2026Library partner for literary projects and reading workshops (Pani performance based on Jørn Riel book; reading workshops for families).
• CSC ChâteauminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2026Partner for the Allez Viens #4 outdoor event on July 8, 2026. Cultural and social center collaborating on community programming.
• SOS MéditerranéeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian organization. Post-show exchange organized after Esquif performance to discuss migration and sea rescue themes.
• La Bouche d'AirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presentation partner for Songs from the North Country performance (Rosemary Standley and Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien) at their venue.
• Cinema St-Paul de RezéminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint project with Makiz'art for stop motion animation workshops around Antichambre performance. Includes school workshops.
• Le Piano'cktailminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presentation partner for Narcisse (Marion Motin) performance. Venue hosting the show.
• CSC Jaunais-BlordièreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presentation partner for Le Bal Magnétique (Massimo Fusco) as part of Festival Trajectoires. Venue hosting the show.
• Festival Petits et GrandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Pani performance. Theater festival specializing in young audience productions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Broad incumbents

• Le Grand T: Nantes théâtre public and CDN presenting a broader regional theater season. Larger and broader-scoped incumbent in the same Loire-Atlantique performing-arts ecosystem.
• Le Lieu Unique: Nantes cultural center (former LU factory) programming contemporary performing arts, exhibitions, and residencies. Comparable multidisciplinary public-mission venue in the same regional ecosystem.
• Stereolux: Nantes SMAC dedicated to current music and digital arts with venue capacity comparable to La Barakason. Peer in the Loire-Atlantique live-music ecosystem with shared audience segments.

Regional players

• Le Quai CDN: Angers-based Centre Dramatique National programming theater, dance, and music in a similar public-mission CDN/scène conventionnée model. Comparable scale and programming breadth in a neighboring Pays de la Loire market.
• Centre Chorégraphique National de Nantes: Nantes-based national choreographic center producing and presenting contemporary dance. Peer in the regional dance programming ecosystem with overlapping audiences and touring circuits.
• La Passerelle: Saint-Nazaire scène nationale programming multidisciplinary performing arts with similar capacity profile. Comparable public-mission venue in a neighboring Loire-Atlantique / Pays de la Loire market.

Emerging players

• Festival Petits et Grands: Regional young-audience theater festival co-producing with La Soufflerie (Pani). Comparable niche specialization within the broader regional performing-arts ecosystem.
• Festival Trajectoires: Regional performing arts festival co-presenting with La Soufflerie (e.g., Le Bal Magnétique). Comparable curatorial focus on contemporary multidisciplinary performance, operating at smaller scale and on a festival cadence.

Direct peers

• La Bouche d'Air: Nantes-based performing arts venue and SMAC programming chanson, world music, and contemporary performance. Direct peer in geographic and artistic scope; La Soufflerie is already a co-presentation partner. (referenced as partner)
• Le Piano'cktail: Bouguenais-based scène conventionnée of comparable scale in Loire-Atlantique; La Soufflerie is already a co-presentation partner. Both venues program multidisciplinary contemporary performing arts (theater, dance, music, circus) and operate similar public-mission models. (referenced as partner)

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lasoufflerieReze
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/la-soufflerie-reze
• Instagraminstagram.com/lasouffleriereze
• Xx.com/la_soufflerie

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 The Wind Tunnel