Centre Culturel Irlandais

What Centre Culturel Irlandais does

The Centre Culturel Irlandais (CCI) is a non-profit cultural institution inaugurated in 2002 in Paris, operating as Ireland's designated cultural flagship in continental Europe. It is housed in the historic Collège des Irlandais — an 18th-century building with origins tracing to 1578 — at 5 rue des Irlandais in the 5th arrondissement. The CCI is governed by La Fondation Irlandaise, recognized as an establishment of public utility, and operates under the directorial leadership of Nora Hickey M'Sichili (since 2013) with a staff of approximately 28. It is institutionally supported by Culture Ireland (part of the Irish Ministry for Culture, Communications and Sport), the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, and DRAC Île-de-France.

CCI's core services span a Médiathèque (media library), a Bibliothèque patrimoniale (heritage library holding 8,000+ volumes including three illuminated manuscripts from c.1500), historical archives documenting four centuries of Irish presence in Paris, virtual exhibitions, and digital resources. Its product portfolio also includes an Artist Residency Programme, the biennial €3,000 Prix de Traduction with Literature Ireland, an annual Prix de Thèse, research bursaries (including the Liam Swords bursary), space rental of the historic chapel and meeting rooms, and short/long-term accommodation for artists and researchers. The technology stack is non-proprietary — CCI uses Weezevent for event registration and CreateSend for email newsletters.

CCI's business model is primarily grant-funded as a non-profit, with earned income from space rental to cultural and educational organizations and modest transaction fees on a subset of paid events (most events and exhibitions are free). It serves a diversified audience of general visitors, artists, researchers, academics, cultural programmers, and educational organizations. Distribution is hybrid: in-person programming at the Paris venue combined with global digital reach via online exhibitions, podcasts, and social media. CCI is currently preparing dedicated programming tied to Ireland's EU Council Presidency (July–December 2026).

Name

Centre Culturel Irlandais

Legal name

Centre Culturel Irançais

Website

https://centreculturelirlandais.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Centre Culturel Irlandais is a non-profit cultural institution in Paris that operates as Ireland's flagship cultural center in continental Europe, offering library services, artist residencies, exhibitions, awards, and educational programs from a historic 18th-century building in the 5th arrondissement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Institution Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums (712110), Libraries and Archives (51921), Museums (71211)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Multidisciplinary Arts Institutions (THAJADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD), Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)

Keywords

• Irish cultural center
• Artist residency programs
• Heritage library services
• Cultural event programming
• Translation and thesis prizes

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Space rental: Rental of CCI spaces including rooms for classes, training sessions, seminars, meetings, lectures, and conferences for cultural and educational organizations.
2. Event registration fees: Some events require paid registration through Weezevent platform, though most events offer free admission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Centre Culturel Irlandais operates as a cultural center and Irish cultural flagship in Europe, offering exhibitions, literary events, concerts, heritage library services, educational programs, and artist residencies. It houses a Médiathèque, Heritage Library with 8,000+ volumes and medieval manuscripts, Historical Archives, and provides artist accommodation, research bursaries, awards (Translation Prize and Thesis Prize), and facility rentals for cultural and educational organizations.

Product overview

Centre Culturel Irlandais (CCI) is a cultural center and Irish cultural flagship in Europe, offering a comprehensive portfolio of cultural, educational, and research services centered on Irish heritage and contemporary arts. The organization's offerings span physical and digital services including: the Médiathèque (media library) and Bibliothèque patrimoniale (heritage library with rare manuscripts), Historical Archives documenting four centuries of Irish presence in Paris; Artist Residency Programmes offering accommodation and workspace for international artists; Award programmes including the biennial Prix de traduction (€3,000 translation prize with Literature Ireland) and Prix de thèse (thesis prize); Research bursaries such as the Liam Swords bursary; Digital services including CCI Online with podcasts and virtual exhibitions; Space rental facilities including the historic chapel and courtyard; and accommodation services for artists and researchers. The CCI organizes exhibitions, literary events, concerts, and cultural programming, including special programming during Ireland's EU Council Presidency (July-December 2026).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Médiathèque (Media Library) A media library offering digital resources, multimedia collections, and educational materials related to Irish culture, open Monday to Friday from 2pm to 6pm.
• Bibliothèque patrimoniale (Heritage Library) A historic library housing rare Irish manuscripts, ancient editions, and over 8,000 volumes including three illuminated medieval manuscripts dating from c.1500.
• Archives historiques (Historical Archives) Historical archives documenting over four centuries of Irish presence in Paris, featuring correspondences, registers, plans, and photographs from the Irish College.
• Artist Residency Programme Residency programmes for artists including international artist residencies, the Romilly Walton Masters Performance Residency, and the Tomi Ungerer Residency for socially engaged artists.
• Prix de traduction (Translation Prize) A biennial prize of €3,000 awarded in partnership with Literature Ireland to support the translation of lesser-known Irish authors into French.
• Prix de thèse (Thesis Prize) An annual prize recognizing outstanding academic theses on Irish culture, literature, or history.
• Bourses (Bursaries) Research bursaries including the Liam Swords bursary for scholars working on Irish language or Irish-French cultural connections.
• Location d'espaces (Space Rental) Rental of CCI spaces including the historic chapel, courtyard, and meeting rooms for cultural and educational events.
• Séjours au CCI (Accommodation) Short-term and long-term accommodation for artists, researchers, and cultural professionals at the Centre.
• Expositions virtuelles (Online Exhibitions) Bilingual virtual exhibitions showcasing Irish literary heritage, including the history of the first English-Irish dictionary printed in Paris in 1732.
• CCI Online Online platform featuring podcasts, virtual exhibitions, literary discussions, and recorded cultural events including the 'CCI a 20 ans' podcast series.

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Marsh's Library DublincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for the Gulliver 300 exhibition celebrating the 300th anniversary of Gulliver's Travels, featuring early editions and documents from both institutions.
• Culture IrelandcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Culture Ireland, part of the Irish Ministry for Culture, Communications and Sport, promotes Irish arts worldwide and collaborates with CCI for cultural programming including Ireland's EU Presidency events.
• Théâtre de la Ville-ParismajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for Focus Irlande, a five-week program celebrating Irish culture at the theatre from November to December 2026.
• Festival Musica StrasbourgmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Off-site partnership bringing Irish musical performances as part of the Ireland EU Presidency cultural program.
• École Nationale Supérieure des Arts DécoratifssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Students from ENSAD will present contemporary interpretations of Gulliver's Travels for the exhibition at CCI.
• Festival AMERICA VincennessupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for author encounter with Patrick Radden Keefe, part of the festival taking place 24-27 September.
• WeezeventsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Event registration platform used for managing event bookings and ticket sales.
• CreateSendsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Email marketing platform used for newsletter distribution and subscriber management.
• Fondation IrlandaisecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The governing foundation recognized as an establishment of public utility that operates and funds the Centre Culturel Irlandais.
• Literature IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration for the Prix de Traduction, a biennial €3,000 award supporting the translation of Irish authors into French, awarded jointly by CCI and Literature Ireland.
• University of Notre DamesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Academic partnership supporting cultural initiatives including the Joyce audio walking tour project.
• Tourism IrelandsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Irish tourism body that supported the CCI's 20th anniversary podcast series.
• Bibliothèque Sainte-GenevièvesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership for scholarly exhibitions including 'Conquering the Unknown' as part of the thematic year on scientific travels.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Goethe-Institut: Germany's globally operating cultural institute promoting German language and culture through events, libraries, and residencies — directly comparable in mission, structure, and programming mix to the CCI.
• British Council: The UK's principal cultural and educational institution promoting British culture abroad through arts programming, libraries, and English-language teaching — the closest analogue to the CCI as a national cultural flagship operating outside its home country.
• Instituto Cervantes: Spain's official cultural institution promoting Spanish language and Hispanic culture worldwide, with a strong focus on libraries, exhibitions, and residencies — operating with a similar non-profit, government-backed model.
• Istituto Italiano di Cultura: Italy's official cultural center in Paris, promoting Italian language and culture through events, courses, and library services — directly comparable as a national cultural flagship operating in Paris.
• Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles: Belgian cultural center in Paris promoting Francophone Belgian culture through exhibitions, performances, and residencies — a Paris-based peer with similar institutional scale and program format.
• Centre culturel tchèque: Czech Republic's network of cultural centers abroad promoting Czech culture — directly comparable as a smaller national cultural flagship with a Paris location and similar programming mix.
• Marsh's Library Dublin: Historic public library in Dublin housing rare early modern collections — an active CCI partner on the Gulliver 300 exhibition and a comparable heritage-library peer serving researchers and cultural tourists.

Broad incumbents

• Alliance Française: Global network of locally-run cultural centers promoting French language and culture — comparable as a national cultural-promotion model, with similar reliance on government support and language/cultural programming.
• Institut Français: France's national network for promoting French culture abroad, with operating language centers, events, and residencies — a larger incumbent with overlapping mission but broader thematic scope.

Others

• Fondation Irlandaise: The parent foundation that governs and funds the CCI, recognized as an establishment of public utility — directly related as the institutional parent and primary governance/funding entity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cc_irlandais
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9QQk7BWHLGMwzLVOAf8itQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/259670987397739
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-culturel-irlandais
• Instagraminstagram.com/centreculturelironnais

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Centre Culturel Irlandais