LA CLEF

What LA CLEF does

La CLEF (Association La CLEF Saint-Germain-en-Laye) is a French non-profit cultural association (loi 1901) founded in 1984 and headquartered at 46 rue de Mareil, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Île-de-France. It operates a multi-disciplinary arts and community venue complex comprising two concert halls (L'Éclipse club with 220 standing capacity and the Grande Salle A.I with 530 seats including 70 tiered), three rehearsal studios, four artist workshops, two exhibition spaces, thirty activity rooms, and a wooded park. The association employs 86 staff and is supported by hundreds of volunteers who have participated since its founding.

The association's product portfolio spans live music programming (50+ events per season across rock, jazz, reggae, electronic, pop, and world music featuring both international touring artists and local emerging talent), performing arts and leisure education (dance classes in hip-hop, jazz, swing, oriental, and Latin styles; yoga, Zumba, Pilates, tennis; music lessons; art workshops; French language courses), rehearsal and recording access for musicians, and rotating art exhibitions. Online services include ticketing via the SoTicket cooperative platform and activity registration through Aniapp, with distribution extended through Fnac, Carrefour, SeeTickets, the Pass Culture youth program, and the Reelax Tickets secondary marketplace. Notable programming initiatives include the All Access discovery nights for emerging artists and the solidarity ticketing program with AVENIR APEI.

La CLEF generates revenue across six streams: concert ticketing (€8-24 per ticket), membership subscriptions (Carte Concerts at €25 per season providing €8 discounts), activity and course fees (€145-465 per season depending on activity), bar and catering during events, gift cards in €20-100 denominations, and donations channeled through solidarity ticketing. The organization holds three French entertainment entrepreneur licenses issued in 2021 and is governed by an elected board of association members. General Director Franck Michaut leads the organization, supported by specialized leads for ticketing, artist relations, All Access programming, exhibitions, and animation.

Name

LA CLEF

Legal name

Association La CLEF Saint-Germain-en-Laye

Website

https://laclef.asso.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Association La CLEF is a French non-profit cultural association founded in 1984 operating a multi-disciplinary venue in Saint-Germain-en-Laye with two concert halls, 30 activity rooms, rehearsal studios, and exhibition spaces, serving local concert-goers, families, and community members through ticketing, memberships, and leisure classes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Music Venue & Community Cultural Center

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Live Music Clubs & Venues (MPAGAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL), Live Music Venues & Concert Bars (THAFAEAD), Concert & Tour Promoters (MPAIAFAA)

Keywords

• Live music venue
• Cultural association
• Concert programming
• Community arts center
• Performing arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-Germain-en-Laye

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Concert ticketing: Revenue from ticket sales for concerts and live events. Tickets are sold online via SoTicket cooperative platform, at the door, and through third-party distributors (Fnac, Carrefour, SeeTickets). The association also operates a solidarity ticketing system where donations fund concert access for people with disabilities.
2. Membership fees (Carte Concerts): Annual membership at 25€ per season provides subscribers with concert discounts (8€ reduction), invitations to exclusive events, and no surcharge at shows.
3. Activity and course fees: Fees for dance, yoga, sports, music lessons, and other leisure activities offered at the venue. Fees vary by activity type and range from per-session to seasonal subscriptions.
4. Bar and catering: Revenue from bar sales during concerts and events, including beers, wines, soft drinks, and light food (hot dogs, galettes, crêpes).
5. Gift cards: Gift cards sold in denominations of 20€, 30€, 50€, and 100€ that can be redeemed for concert tickets and membership.
6. Donations and solidarity ticketing: Donations through the billetterie solidaire support concert access for people accompanied by AVENIR APEI association.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Association La CLEF operates a multi-purpose cultural venue in Saint-Germain-en-Laye offering live music concerts across genres (rock, jazz, reggae, electronic, world music), performing arts classes (dance, yoga, music, theatre), art exhibitions, rehearsal studios, and community cultural programming. Revenue is generated through concert ticketing, annual memberships (Carte Concerts), activity fees, gift cards, bar services, and solidarity donations supporting accessibility initiatives.

Product overview

La CLEF is a non-profit cultural association (loi 1901) operating a multi-faceted arts and entertainment venue in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France. The organization functions as both a concert hall complex and a community cultural center. The venue infrastructure includes two concert spaces: L'Éclipse (club/small hall with 220 capacity) and the Grande Salle A.I (530-seat main hall), three rehearsal studios, thirty activity rooms, two exhibition spaces, and four artist studios. The product portfolio encompasses live music programming (concerts across genres including rock, jazz, reggae, electronic, pop), performing arts education (dance, music, theater classes), and cultural accessibility initiatives including gift cards, a concert membership card (Carte Concerts), and solidarity ticketing. Online services include ticketing via SoTicket and activity registration through Aniapp. The organization emphasizes eclecticism in programming, supporting emerging artists through discovery events like All Access nights, and community engagement through volunteer programs and cultural outreach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Concerts and Live Music Events Live music concerts hosted across two venues (L'Éclipse club with 220 standing capacity and Grande Salle A.I with 530 seats), featuring international and local artists across rock, jazz, reggae, electronic, pop, world music, folk, and blues genres. Targeted at general public and music enthusiasts.
• Carte Concerts (Annual Membership) Annual subscription membership at €25 per season (September to June) providing 8€ discount on most concert events, regular invitations to discovery concerts, and no surcharge on show nights. Targeted at frequent concert attendees.
• Cultural Activities and Workshops Seasonal classes and workshops including dance (hip-hop, jazz, swing, modern, Latin, oriental), sports and fitness (yoga, Zumba, Pilates, tennis), music instruction, art workshops, and French language courses. Targeted at community members of all ages, with resident discounts available.
• Gift Cards (Cartes Cadeaux) Gift vouchers in denominations of €20, €30, €50, or €100, redeemable for concert tickets and Carte Concerts membership. Valid for one year from purchase. Targeted at gift-givers and cultural enthusiasts.
• Solidarity Ticketing (Billetterie Solidaire) Donation-based ticketing initiative in partnership with AVENIR APEI association, funding concert access for people with intellectual disabilities, autism, polyhandicap, and psychiatric disabilities. Targeted at donors supporting cultural accessibility.
• Art Exhibitions Rotating art exhibitions hosted in two exhibition spaces (Salle François Clouard and Le Palier) throughout the year. Targeted at art enthusiasts and the local community.
• Rehearsal Studios Three rehearsal studios available for musicians to create, practice, and record music. Part of La CLEF's musician support services. Targeted at local musicians and bands.
• Artist Studios (Ateliers d'Artistes)

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ events per season showcasing diverse programming from local to international artists
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Théâtre Alexandre DumascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partnership with Théâtre Alexandre Dumas in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Jointly produced Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 concert, demonstrating collaborative programming between the city's two major cultural venues.
• AVENIR APEIcoreOthersSocial partnership through billetterie solidaire (solidarity ticketing). Donations fund concert tickets for people with intellectual disabilities, autism, polyhandicap, and psychiatric disabilities supported by AVENIR APEI, which operates multiple establishments in northeast Yvelines.
• SoTicketcoreTechnology or IntegrationTicketing cooperative platform designed BY and FOR contemporary music stakeholders. Provides online ticketing infrastructure for the association's events without service charges to customers.
• Le RIF (Réseau des Musiques Actuelles en Île-de-France)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional music industry network partnered with La CLEF for the 'Jeunes en Cavale' talent development program, supporting emerging artists through selection phases and final showcase at Petit Bain, Paris.
• ZuluberlusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization running the 'Jeunes en Cavale' regional talent identification program. La CLEF serves as a selection venue for this youth music development initiative spanning multiple Île-de-France venues.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Le Petit Bain: Mid-size independent live music venue and club in Paris (13e arrondissement) hosting emerging and established artists across genres with a community-oriented programming model similar to La CLEF's All Access-style discovery nights.
• Le New Morning: Long-running independent Paris music venue specializing in jazz, blues, soul, and world music, operating a comparable ticketing and bar-driven revenue model with strong community roots since the 1980s.
• Le Trabendo: Paris venue at Parc de la Villette operating as a public/community cultural institution hosting concerts across genres for 700–1,200 capacity, with a comparable mix of discovery programming, ticketing, and youth engagement.
• La Maroquinerie: Independent mid-capacity Paris concert venue (20e) focused on emerging French and international indie, rock, and electronic acts with comparable programming breadth and ticket price points to La CLEF.

Regional players

• Le Plan: Community-run concert venue in Ris-Orangis (Essonne), part of the Réseau FEDELIMA, operating an almost identical non-profit model of ticketed concerts, rehearsal studios, and local cultural activities in the southern Île-de-France suburbs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/laclefsaintgermain
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laclefsaintgermain

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 LA CLEF