Transfert
Transfert was a free, temporary cultural urbanism project (2018-2022) operated by the non-profit Pick Up Production in Reze near Nantes, combining a public cultural site, an urbanism research laboratory, and artist residencies, funded by public grants and private patronage.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersNantes, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Transfert does
Transfert is a now-concluded cultural urbanism project, not a commercial enterprise. It was operated by Pick Up Production, a French non-profit association (Association loi 1901) registered in Reze, near Nantes, and ran from 2018 to September 2022 on the site of the former municipal slaughterhouses in the ZAC Pirmil-Les Isles development zone. The project functioned as a free public cultural space combining three integrated components: Le Labo (a multidisciplinary research laboratory on urbanism, sociology, and social geography), Le Lieu (a physical park hosting performances, concerts, workshops, bar, dining, and outdoor activities during summer), and La Fabrique (artist residencies, workshops, and action-research fabrication). It served the general public of Reze and the Nantes metropolitan area, invited artists and collectives, and engaged researchers, producing a body of outputs including 10 published research booklets, the Radio Transfert audio series, the 5-episode podcast 'Transfert la Traversee' produced with Pop'Media, and a comprehensive responsible-demantelement documentation set.
The project was funded by two founding private patrons (Cogedim Atlantique, Credit Agricole Atlantique-Vendee) and three public partners (Nantes Metropole, Ville de Reze, Ministere de la Culture), with the ADEME environmental agency supporting the dismantling phase. There was no pricing model, no commercial product, and no monetised customer relationship: access to the site was free and the operating budget came entirely from grants, public funding, and patronage. The principal proprietary output was a documented methodology for eco-responsible demantelement of temporary cultural sites, developed in collaboration with La Ressourcerie Culturelle, under which 90% of built structures were reused (81% within the Pays de la Loire region) and 22 cultural structures received materials. The project ceased operations in September 2022 to release the land for the Pirmil-Les Isles urban development, with dismantling completed by end of March 2023.
Transfert firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Transfert
- Legal name
- Pick Up Production
- Website
- https://transfert.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Transfert was a free, temporary cultural urbanism project (2018-2022) operated by the non-profit Pick Up Production in Reze near Nantes, combining a public cultural site, an urbanism research laboratory, and artist residencies, funded by public grants and private patronage.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Transfert is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nantes
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Transfert business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Sponsorship and Patronage: Funded by founding patrons (mécènes fondateurs) including Cogedim Atlantique and Crédit Agricole Atlantique-Vendée, as well as public funding from City of Rezé, Nantes Métropole, and Ministry of Culture.
- Site Demantèlement Services: Collaborative demantèlement project with La Ressourcerie Culturelle generating documentation and methodology for responsible site closure in the cultural sector.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Transfert product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Transfert was an experimental cultural urbanism project operated by the Pick Up Production association from 2018 to 2022 on the former slaughterhouses site in Rezé (Nantes metropolitan area), France. It combined a free public cultural space, an artist residency and fabrication workshop, and an urban research laboratory to explore the making of convivial, hospitable, and human-scale public space. The project produced documented research, podcasts, and booklets, and concluded with an eco-responsible dismantling of the temporary site.
Product overview
Transfert is an ephemeral urban and cultural project (2018-2022) operated by Pick Up Production association in Rezé, France, serving as an experimental laboratory for cultural urbanism. Rather than a software product, Transfert functioned as a physical cultural site offering three integrated components: Le Labo (a research laboratory), Le Lieu (the physical space/park), and La Fabrique (creation and fabrication workshops). The project produced multimedia content including publications (Livret series), podcasts (Radio Transfert, Transfert la Traversée), and interview series (Les Entretiens), all documenting its exploration of what constitutes a convivial, hospitable, and human-centered city.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Le Lieu (The Place) Free public cultural park and experimental public square with whimsical architecture and scenography, hosting performances, concerts, conferences, workshops, bar, dining, outdoor leisure and games during summer seasons for the general public and visitors.
- La Fabrique (The Workshop) Creation and fabrication space where artists, collectives, and participants developed urban projects through residencies, workshops, and action-research alongside social, cultural, scientific, and building sector actors.
- Le Labo (The Laboratory) Multidisciplinary research laboratory exploring the relationship between art, cultural action, and urban development through three axes: being together, living together, and acting together, producing research publications for urban planners, researchers, and academics.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% of site materials reused through responsible demantèlement
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Transfert
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Transfert technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Transfert partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and supporting.
- Pick Up ProductioncoreParent association that conceived and piloted the Transfert project from 2018 to 2022. Pick Up Production is a cultural association (association loi 1901) based in Rezé that initiated the urban cultural adventure on the former slaughterhouse site.
- La Ressourcerie CulturellecoreAssociation developing circular economy solutions for cultural activities in Pays de la Loire. Partnered with Pick Up Production for the responsible demantèlement of Transfert site, helping to maximize material reuse and serve as a showcase for reuse practices in the cultural sector.
- Gestion BatminorConstruction company responsible for conducting the demantèlement work at the Transfert site, working in collaboration with La Ressourcerie Culturelle for integration of reuse considerations.
- ADEMEsupportingAgence de la transition écologique (French environmental agency) provided support for the demantèlement project focusing on circular economy and responsible material management practices.
- Pop'MediacoreMedia production company given carte blanche by Pick Up Production to create a 5-episode podcast series 'Transfert la Traversée' documenting the creation and impact of the Transfert project. Pascal Massiot led interviews and production.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Transfert competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- La Halle Tropisme: Montpellier third place in a former cartridge factory hosting cultural programming, fab-lab, and residencies — closely comparable cultural-temporary-use model with associated makerspace.
- La REcyclerie: Paris-based cultural and sustainable-food venue operating in a former railway station, combining third-place programming, urban agriculture, and circular-economy practices — directly comparable to Transfert's repurposed-slaughterhouse cultural venue with responsible demantèlement ethos.
- Les Subsistances: Lyon cultural laboratory in a former military supply building combining artistic creation, research, and public programming — comparable cultural-urbanism laboratory format in a repurposed industrial heritage site.
- Ground Control: Paris food-and-cultural venue occupying a former SNCF parcel-sorting site near Gare de Lyon — analogous urban-industrial temporary-use cultural space combining events, dining, and programming.
- La Ressourcerie Culturelle (Montaigu): Pays de la Loire circular-economy association for cultural materials that was Transfert's demantèlement partner — directly comparable regional player in reuse of cultural-infrastructure materials.
- Les Grands Voisins: Temporary occupation of the former Saint-Vincent-de-Paul hospital in Paris hosting artists, associations, and entrepreneurs — same model of ephemeral cultural/social use of a brownfield awaiting redevelopment.
- La Friche la Belle de Mai: Marseille cultural operator in a former tobacco factory combining artist residencies, public programming, and urban experimentation — France's largest established analogue of Transfert's factory-as-cultural-lab concept.
Regional players
- Le Maillon (Théâtre de Strasbourg): Strasbourg scenographic/theatrical venue with a comparable integration of scenography, public experimentation, and urban programming — comparable artist-residency and cultural-fabrication function in eastern France.
Broad incumbents
- Le CENTQUATRE-PARIS: Major Parisian public cultural center (formerly a municipal funeral parlor) hosting artists, residencies, and free programming — comparable as a publicly-supported urban cultural experimentation venue at much larger scale.
Others
- Pick Up Production: Parent non-profit association of Transfert — included as ecosystem context rather than peer; the continuing legal entity that could host any successor activities.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Transfert social profiles
Digital presenceTransfert financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Transfert leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Transfert funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Transfert M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Transfert
What does Transfert do?
Transfert was an experimental cultural urbanism project operated by the Pick Up Production association from 2018 to 2022 on the former slaughterhouses site in Rezé (Nantes metropolitan area), France. It combined a free public cultural space, an artist residency and fabrication workshop, and an urban research laboratory to explore the making of convivial, hospitable, and human-scale public space. The project produced documented research, podcasts, and booklets, and concluded with an eco-responsible dismantling of the temporary site.
Is Transfert a public or private company?
Transfert is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently closed.
When was Transfert founded?
Transfert was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Transfert based?
Transfert is headquartered in Nantes, France, in the Europe region.
How does Transfert make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Sponsorship and Patronage is the primary driver. The others are site Demantèlement Services.
Who are Transfert's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are La Halle Tropisme, La REcyclerie, Les Subsistances, Ground Control, La Ressourcerie Culturelle (Montaigu), Les Grands Voisins and La Friche la Belle de Mai. Le Maillon (Théâtre de Strasbourg) is listed as a regional player. Le CENTQUATRE-PARIS is listed as a broad incumbent. Pick Up Production is listed as an others.
Does Transfert have an API?
No public API is recorded for Transfert.