Le Boulon, Centre national des arts de la rue et de l'espace public

What Le Boulon, Centre national des arts de la rue et de l'espace public does

Le Boulon, Centre national des arts de la rue et de l'espace public, is a French nonprofit cultural association (Association Loi 1901, founded 1999/2000, SIRET 398 694 257 000 39) headquartered in Vieux-Condé, Hauts-de-France. It is one of only 14 organizations in France holding the CNAREP label (awarded 2013 by the Ministry of Culture / DRAC Hauts-de-France), designating it as a national reference center for street arts and public space creation. The organization operates from a 4,500 m² former industrial bolt factory — the historic site where some Eiffel Tower rivets were manufactured — converted into a multi-format cultural venue within the UNESCO-listed Bassin Minier. Infrastructure includes two large public halls (1,167 m² and 920 m²), a 632 m² modular performance space with 10m ceiling height, a 764 m² workshop/fabrique with wood-metal and sewing-painting technical facilities, a 488 m² indoor street, a 620 m² courtyard, and a self-supporting circus tent (14m diameter, 10.6m height).

Its programming spans a year-round season of approximately 20 professional performances and artistic residencies, the flagship Les Turbulentes festival (28th edition in 2026, attracting 35,000+ visitors over the first May weekend, free admission), weekly circus and Batucada workshops, cultural mediation programs for schools and medico-social structures, and a professional training offering (La Courte Échelle, in partnership with FAI-AR). It serves a diversified audience of general public, schools (kindergarten through higher education), medico-social and healthcare institutions, approximately 30 invited professional artistic companies annually, and corporate event clients renting the venue.

The revenue model is a hybrid: predominantly recurring public subsidies from five tiers of government (Ministry of Culture, Hauts-de-France Region, Nord Department, Valenciennes Métropole, Ville de Vieux-Condé), supplemented by ticket sales (€6 reduced / €10 full), workshop and training fees (€90–€2,100), venue and space rental, and corporate mécénat. Go-to-market is event-driven (anchored by Les Turbulentes) and community-led (via the 'Le Boulon & Vous' cultural mediation programs and CLEA+ territorial contracts). Ticketing is direct via Mapado (online) and physical box office; outreach uses a multi-channel presence including website, podcast, YouTube (Le Boulon TV), Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and a regional media partnership network.

Name

Le Boulon, Centre national des arts de la rue et de l'espace public

Legal name

Le Boulon, centre national des arts de la rue et de l'espace public

Website

https://leboulon.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Le Boulon is a French nonprofit (CNAREP, est. 1999) operating a 4,500 m² converted industrial venue in Vieux-Condé, Hauts-de-France, presenting ~20 street arts performances per year, the Les Turbulentes festival (35,000+ visitors), workshops, and cultural mediation programs for schools, social services, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts and Cultural Center

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Festival Grounds & Fairgrounds Operations (MPAGALAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Outdoor Amphitheater & Open-Air Venue Operations (MPAGALAG)

Keywords

• Street arts performances
• Cultural mediation programs
• Artist residency programs
• Circus arts education
• Public space creation

Headquarters

HQ city

Vieux-Condé

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public subsidies and institutional funding: Le Boulon is an Association Loi 1901 non-profit receiving multi-layered public funding from: the Ministry of Culture (DRAC Hauts-de-France), the Hauts-de-France Regional Council, the Nord Departmental Council, Valenciennes Métropole, and the City of Vieux-Condé.
2. Ticket sales: Revenue from spectacle ticket sales across the annual season programming (~20 performances) and the Les Turbulentes festival. Ticket prices range from €6 (reduced/youth) to €10 (full price). Online ticketing via Mapado, in-person box office open Tue-Fri 9h-12h30 and 14h-17h30.
3. Workshop and circus course fees: Weekly circus workshops for children, teens, and adults (e.g., 3-5 yrs: €120/€90; 6-10 yrs: €145/€110; adult: €145/€110 per season). Music percussion (Batucada) at €100 per season (January-June, 19 sessions). School holiday stage courses at €120-€150.
4. Venue and space rental: The facility's multiple spaces (halls, performance area, tent, rehearsal rooms) are rented for corporate events, conferences, gala dinners, film shoots, and cocktails, with catering by La Table du Boulon.
5. Mécénat (Patronage/sponsorship): Corporate sponsorship program offering partners privileged access to creation, evenings and encounters, communication opportunities, and relationship with audiences. Listed corporate partners include Valenciennes Métropole, CRP Hauts-de-France, CCI Grand-Hainaut, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Le Boulon is a national centre for street arts and public space (CNAREP) producing and presenting live performances, an annual festival (Les Turbulentes), artistic residencies, weekly circus and Batucada workshops, and cultural mediation programs for schools and medico-social structures. Offerings are delivered on-site in a 4,500 m² converted industrial bolt factory in Vieux-Condé and through off-site ('hors les murs') territorial projects across the Hauts-de-France region, supported by multi-tier public subsidies, ticket sales, workshop fees, venue rental, and mécénat partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Les Turbulentes: Annual street arts festival held the first weekend of May, attracting over 35,000 festival-goers. Established in 1999.
• La Table du Boulon
• Le Podcast du Boulon
• Les P'tites Mains du Boulon
• Le Boulon TV

Products and services

• Les Turbulentes — Annual Street Arts Festival Three-day annual free street-arts festival featuring ~30 professional companies, attracting 35,000+ visitors to Vieux-Condé over the first May weekend; includes spectacles, residencies, and community programming.
• Seasonal Performance Tickets (La Saison au Boulon) Ticketed access to the ~20 professional spectacles and artistic residencies programmed per season, sold €10 full / €6 reduced (job seekers, RSA, students, seniors 65+, groups 10+, cultural professionals, ELIT card holders); children under 18 free; family pack €30; shuttle + show package €15. Distributing online via Mapado and at the on-site box office.
• Weekly Circus Workshops (Ateliers Hebdomadaires — January–July season) Subscription-based weekly circus workshops for ages 3-5 yrs (Wed 13h30-14h45), 6-10 yrs (Wed 15h-16h30), 11-15 yrs (Wed 17h-18h30), and adults (Thu 18h45-20h45). Priced €90–€145 per season, with reduced rate for 2nd child onwards, job seekers, students, RSA beneficiaries, and non-taxable families.
• Batucada (Afro-Brazilian percussion) — Weekly Workshop Annual percussion subscription workshop covering 19 sessions from January to June, priced €100 per season; led by Elliot Amah and supported by Le Boulon.
• School-Holiday Circus Stage Courses (Stages de Cirque) Multi-day circus and performing-arts stage courses for ages 4-15 yrs held during winter, spring, and summer school holidays (e.g., Winter 16-20 Feb 2026, Spring 13-17 Apr 2026, Summer 6-10 and 13-17 Jul 2026), priced €120–€150 per child (reduced from 2nd child onwards).
• La Courte Échelle — Professional Training in Public-Space Creation 35-hour residential training programme for professional artists on creation in public space, delivered in partnership with FAI-AR; €2,100 TTC per trainee, including 5-day accommodation and full board at Le Boulon.
• Venue and Space Rental for Corporate and Institutional Events Rental of Le Boulon's multi-format spaces (1,167 m² and 920 m² public-square halls, 632 m² modular performance area, 98 m² rehearsal room, 14 m circus tent, indoor street) for corporate events, conferences, gala dinners, film shoots, and cocktails, with integrated catering by La Table du Boulon. Sold on request via Administratrice Laetitia Brion and Romain Carlier.
• 3x3x3 Exploration Artistique Multi-venue artistic exploration project pairing three companies across three Hauts-de-France venues in three-day sessions, supporting artist-led creation workshops in public space and funded by DRAC Hauts-de-France.
• Le Podcast du Boulon Multi-series audio podcast (Entre nous, Un regard préparé, Traversées, Intergénérationnel) with ~40 episodes featuring artist interviews, portraits, and audio creations; available free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Podcastics, and Google Podcasts.
• La Table du Boulon — On-site Restaurant and Catering Convivial on-site restaurant and catering service open on performance evenings, offering home-made soups, seasonal croques, and light fare at affordable prices; also provides catering for corporate and event rentals (weddings, gala dinners, film shoots, cocktails).

Quantifiable outcome

• 35,000+ festival-goers per year at Les Turbulentes, a free event open to all
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 4HdF Group (Le Prato, Culture Commune, Cirque Jules Verne, Le Boulon)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Since 2017, four major Hauts-de-France cultural venues (Le Boulon in Vieux-Condé, Cirque Jules Verne in Amiens, Culture Commune in Loos-en-Gohelle, and Le Prato in Lille) form the 4HdF cooperation group for circus and street arts. The network aims to improve artist support and accompaniment, circulation of works and audiences, territorial networking, and regional and international influence of circus and street arts.
• Valenciennes MétropolecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity of Agglomeration Valenciennes Métropole is a primary institutional funder and CLEA+ program partner. Le Boulon is declared of community interest by Valenciennes Métropole. Declared of interest communautaire by Valenciennes Métropole.
• Ville de Vieux-CondécoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Vieux-Condé is the host municipality for Le Boulon and provides institutional support as part of its local cultural development policy.
• FAI-ARminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAI-AR is the reference artistic training body for creation in public space. Le Boulon partners with FAI-AR for La Courte Échelle professional training program (March 2026), providing venue, accommodation and catering.
• Association des CNAREPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Association of National Centers for Street Arts and Public Space represents all 14 CNAREPs nationally. Since 2019, the association carries a common voice to public authorities on labeling, expertise, and evaluation. It also manages the Hors Cadre production fund (opened to 10 structures in 2026).
• Pôle Nord (Fédération régionale des arts de la rue)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPôle Nord is the Hauts-de-France regional federation for street arts. It federates the sector to promote recognition at the local level and is part of the national Fédération Nationale des Arts de la Rue.
• Collectif HF+ Hauts-de-FranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLe Boulon is a member of Collectif HF+ which fights for gender equality in arts and culture in the Hauts-de-France region.
• Collectif Jeune Public Hauts-de-FranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLe Boulon participates in the Collectif Jeune Public which aims to defend an ambitious cultural policy for young audience live performance.
• SACDminorOthersSociété des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques — French society for dramatic authors and composers, listed as a partner friend of Le Boulon.
• AFDASminorOthersFrench lifelong training and social protection fund for the cultural sector, listed as a partner friend of Le Boulon.
• Fédération Nationale des Arts de la RueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational federation for street arts — an information circulation, exchange, and debate space, and also a lobbying group defending shared ethics and interests related to public space creation.
• ArtcenaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational resource center for circus, street arts, and theatre listed as a partner friend of Le Boulon.
• Parc naturel régional Scarpe-EscautminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional nature park covering the Scarpe-Escaut territory — a partner friend for territorial projects and environmental considerations around performances in public space.
• Mission Bassin MinierminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission for the Mining Basin — a partner friend supporting territorial development and UNESCO heritage promotion for the Mining Basin where Le Boulon is located.
• Abbaye de VaucellesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric 12th-century abbey in the Valenciennois that collaborates with Le Boulon on annual heritage day events (Journées Européennes du Patrimoine), hosting joint family artistic days for 5 consecutive years.
• Valenciennes MétropolecoreOthersInstitutional partner and sponsor of Le Boulon. Valenciennes Métropole logo appears among corporate partners alongside CRP Hauts-de-France, CCI Grand-Hainaut, and others on the corporate events page.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Artcena: National resource center for circus, street arts, and theater. Broad incumbent that supports the wider ecosystem Le Boulon operates in, including professional development, documentation, and policy advocacy.
• Fédération Nationale des Arts de la Rue: National trade federation for street arts in France. Le Boulon is a member via Pôle Nord; relevant as a sector-wide incumbent shaping policy, funding, and professional standards affecting Le Boulon's operating environment.

Direct peers

• Culture Commune: Loos-en-Gohelle national street arts center and 4HdF co-founder. Operates a similar festival (Rencontres des Arts de la Rue), artist residencies, and public-space programming in a post-mining context analogous to Vieux-Condé.
• Le Fourneau: CNAREP based in Brest. Direct peer operating street arts festivals, residencies, and public-space creation with a similar CNAREP funding structure and programming scale.
• La Paperie: CNAREP in Angers. Direct peer as a nationally-designated street arts and public-space center with comparable programming (residencies, festival, mediation) and institutional funding.
• Le Prato: Lille-based circus and street arts venue and co-founder of the 4HdF cooperation group with Le Boulon. Direct peer across programming model (circus, public-space creation), institutional funding structure, and Hauts-de-France territorial role.
• Atelier 231: CNAREP in Sotteville-lès-Rouen (Normandy). Direct peer as one of the 14 nationally-designated street arts centers, with comparable festival programming, public funding model, and artist-residency infrastructure.
• Cirque Jules Verne (Maison de la Culture d'Amiens): Amiens-based national circus pole and 4HdF co-founder. Comparable as a CNAREP-adjacent, multi-format circus/street arts venue with similar public funding model and artist-residency infrastructure.

Regional players

• Le Channel — Scène Nationale de Calais: Performing arts venue and Scène Nationale in Hauts-de-France. Regional peer operating in the same territory with overlapping performing arts programming and shared audiences, though broader than street arts.

Others

• FAI-AR (Formation Avancée et Itinérante des Arts de la Rue): Reference artistic training body for public-space creation in France. Le Boulon partners with FAI-AR for the La Courte Échelle professional training program; relevant as an enabling ecosystem participant adjacent to Le Boulon's core activity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lebouloncnarep
• Facebookfacebook.com/lebouloncnarep
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leboulon
• Instagraminstagram.com/lebouloncnarep

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Le Boulon, Centre national des arts de la rue et de l'espace public