Les Laboratoires d'Aubervilliers

What Les Laboratoires d'Aubervilliers does

Les Laboratoires d'Aubervilliers is a non-profit cultural center (association loi 1901) founded in 2001 and located in a 900 m² former metallurgy factory at 41 rue Lécuyer, Aubervilliers, Seine-Saint-Denis, 500 meters from Paris. Its mission is to provide dedicated research infrastructure for contemporary artists across all disciplines (dance, visual arts, theater, cinema, interdisciplinary), accommodating projects that do not fit conventional production systems. Core offerings include artist residencies with workspace and financial, technical, and logistical support; weekly training sessions (Les Entraînements hebdomadaires); a monthly Ciné-Club; the La Semeuse community garden and urban biodiversity space; bimonthly La Gazette des Labos and annual Journal des Labos publications printed on an on-site Riso press; Les Mercredis des Labos activities for local youth; the LAB'OPEN MIC rap contest series; and La Fabrique des nouveaux imaginaires cross-disciplinary encounters. The center is currently led by a collegiate direction of Patricia Allio, Marcela Santander Corvalán, and Mara Teboul (2025-2027), with Mathilde Monnier chairing the Board of Directors.

The organization serves four primary segments: contemporary artists (primary, including choreographers and international researchers), local residents of Aubervilliers and Seine-Saint-Denis (primary, through workshops, La Semeuse, and AMAP baskets), youth and the hip-hop community (secondary, through LAB'OPEN MIC and dance programming), and the general cultural public (secondary, through the bimonthly Gazette, newsletter, and public events). Its go-to-market is multi-channel: monthly email newsletter, bimonthly free print Gazette distributed across Île-de-France, organic social media, free Eventbrite registration, and a comprehensive bilingual website with archives since 2001. Programming is delivered on-site (two main halls and a garden) and off-site (hors-les-murs) across Aubervilliers neighborhoods and regional festivals.

Revenue is primarily institutional public funding from four partners — Ville d'Aubervilliers, Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis, Région Île-de-France, and DRAC Île-de-France (Ministère de la Culture) — supplemented by commercial space rental (quote-based, for corporate events, filming, seminars), free room lending to artists, AMAP vegetable basket subscriptions (€10-€14, seasonal), and €5 sales of the annual Journal des Labos. Most programming is free to lower barriers to cultural participation. The organization is a member of Tram, a federation of 31 contemporary art venues in Île-de-France, and maintains partnerships with Plaine Commune, CAF Seine-Saint-Denis, La Commune CDN, and multiple local associations supporting the social-ecology and youth programming.

Name

Les Laboratoires d'Aubervilliers

Legal name

Les Laboratoires d'Aubervilliers

Website

https://leslaboratoires.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Non-profit artistic research and creation center in Aubervilliers, France, founded 2001, providing artist residencies, weekly workshops, publications, and community programs, serving contemporary artists and local residents through public funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts & Cultural Center

NAICS

Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Literary Arts & Writing Organizations (BPAGAHAK)

Keywords

• Artist residency programs
• Contemporary art center
• Cultural research labs
• Community arts venue
• Performing arts programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Aubervilliers

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Subsidies: Core funding from institutional partners including Ville d'Aubervilliers, Département de la Seine-Saint-Denis, Région Île-de-France, and Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles d'Île-de-France (Ministry of Culture).
2. Space Rental: Revenue from renting out the venue's spaces (totally or partially) for events including corporate receptions, salons, cocktails, product launches, breakfasts, seminars, professional meetings, and filming. Fee-based with quote-based pricing.
3. Room Loan: Free loan of two halls to artists and companies for up to 5 days without technical support, as part of artistic community support.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Les Laboratoires d'Aubervilliers is a non-profit cultural center and artistic research facility offering artist residencies, weekly practice workshops, film screenings, a community garden, and bimonthly and annual editorial publications. It provides flexible workspace, financial, technical, and logistical support for research projects across all contemporary art disciplines, adapting resources to each project's specific needs. The center also rents its modular industrial venue to corporate clients for events and filming.

Product overview

Les Laboratoires d'Aubervilliers is a cultural center and artist residency space occupying 900 m2 of a former metallurgy factory in Aubervilliers, France. The organization operates as a single unified offering—a multidisciplinary arts center—rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its portfolio spans artist residencies (Résidences d'artistes), weekly artistic training workshops (Les Entraînements hebdomadaires), film programming (Ciné-Club), a community garden and biodiversity space (La Semeuse), two editorial publications (La Gazette des Labos bimonthly and Le Journal des Labos annual), Wednesday cultural activities (Les Mercredis des Labos), a rap contest series (LAB'OPEN MIC), and monthly cross-disciplinary encounters (La Fabrique des nouveaux imaginaires). The center also offers space rental and lending services. All offerings are interconnected through the residency program and the Fabrique Démocratique project, fostering collective research, artistic practice, and community engagement across dance, visual arts, theater, film, and crafts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• La Gazette des Labos: A bimonthly publication dedicated to news from Les Laboratoires and life in the 4 Chemins neighborhood, inaugurated on January 31, 2025
• Le Journal des Labos
• La Semeuse
• Les Entraînements hebdomadaires

Products and services

• Résidences d'artistes (Artist Residencies) Multi-disciplinary artist residencies providing workspace, financial, technical, and logistical support for research projects across all contemporary art disciplines, adapting structure, duration, and budget to each project. For contemporary artists from all disciplines (dance, visual arts, theater, cinema, interdisciplinary), including international artists.
• Les Entraînements hebdomadaires (Weekly Training Sessions) Weekly artistic practice workshops held on Mondays, covering dance, vocal techniques, artisanal crafts, and other disciplines, animated by resident artists or invited practitioners. For mixed professional and amateur audiences.
• Ciné-Club Monthly film screening program featuring fiction, documentaries, and short films linked to resident artists' practices, with discussion sessions. For general cultural public and local residents.
• La Semeuse (Urban Biodiversity Meeting Place) Community garden featuring workshops on gardening, bread-making, composting, and biodiversity, including a wood-fired bread oven, AMAP vegetable box program, and volunteer group. For local residents of Aubervilliers and Seine-Saint-Denis.
• La Gazette des Labos Free bimonthly publication dedicated to Les Laboratoires' activities and life in the 4 Chemins neighborhood, printed on Risograph with graphic design by H·Alix Sanyas. Free distribution in Île-de-France.
• Le Journal des Labos Annual editorial publication continuing a gesture initiated in 2001, featuring posters, postcards, and pins, printed in Riso with graphic design by H·Alix Sanyas. Sold at €5 per copy as a surprise package.
• Les Mercredis des Labos (Wednesday Activities) Twice-monthly public activities promoting oral and written expression, hip-hop culture, and multilingual exchanges, including storytelling, rap writing workshops, open mic coaching, and a library program. For local families and youth.
• LAB'OPEN MIC Rap contest open mic series hosted by Titi Banlieusard, featuring DJ performances, competitive rounds, and coaching workshops, culminating in a grand final with prizes including paid showcases and studio recording sessions. For young people from Aubervilliers.
• La Fabrique des nouveaux imaginaires Monthly evening of cross-disciplinary encounters between artists, performers, and researchers, animated alternately by one of the three co-directors. For general cultural public and artists.
• Location d'espaces (Space Rental) Commercial rental of 900 m² of modular industrial architecture for corporate events including receptions, seminars, product launches, cooking shows, breakfasts, salons, cocktails, and filming. Quote-based pricing via [email protected].
• Prêt de salle (Room Lending) Free loan of two halls for artists and companies for up to 5 days without technical support, as part of artistic community support. Candidature open year-round at [email protected].
• Newsletter mensuelle (Monthly Newsletter) Free monthly email newsletter highlighting Les Laboratoires' activities, artist residencies, and upcoming events, distributed to subscribers interested in the center's programming.
• What's The Next Song? (Dance Battle Series) Multi-edition dance battle series featuring 1 vs 1 battles (e.g., Waacking), upcycling fashion projects, and DJ programming, culminating in a final edition with prizes. For dancers and youth from the local area.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ville d'AubervillierscoreOthersMunicipal government providing institutional support and primary funding as the host city of the artistic research center.
• Département de la Seine-Saint-DeniscoreOthersDepartmental council providing significant funding and support for cultural programming, including hip-hop initiatives and La Semeuse garden project.
• Région Île-de-FrancecoreOthersRegional council providing institutional funding as part of the Île-de-France arts ecosystem.
• Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles d'Île-de-France (DRAC) - Ministère de la CulturecoreOthersRegional directorate of the French Ministry of Culture providing national-level cultural funding and policy support.
• TramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation federating 31 contemporary art venues in Île-de-France for 40 years, promoting production and dissemination of contemporary art across the region.
• Auber MécénatminorOthersLocal endowment fund supporting cultural initiatives in Aubervilliers. Supports programs including hip-hop and youth expression projects.
• Plaine Commune (programme Fabriques d'Avenirs 2025)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetropolitan structure supporting La Semeuse garden through the 'Fabriques d'Avenirs 2025' program for urban biodiversity projects.
• CAF de Seine-Saint-DenisminorOthersCaisse d'Allocations Familiales supporting family and youth cultural programming.
• Centre de loisirs Anne SylvestreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal leisure center partnering for youth programming and inter-generational activities.
• OMJA (Œuvre de la Miséricorde des Jeunes de l'Auber)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal youth organization co-programming hip-hop workshops, rap contests, and dance activities.
• La Commune CDN - AubervilliersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Drama Center in Aubervilliers partnering for artistic residencies and dance programming.
• Rencontres chorégraphiques internationales de Seine-Saint-DenisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational dance festival partnering for performance presentations and artist residencies.
• Pas Si LoinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation carrying the '4 Chemins de la Terre' project for biodiversity and sustainable food awareness in the 4 Chemins neighborhood.
• Graines RésistantesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPluridisciplinary collective of artisans, landscapers, and creators engaged in social ecology through art and craftsmanship. Provides gardening expertise and participatory workshops.
• Festival 'Alors on danse'minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Aubervilliers' annual dance festival co-programming outdoor dance workshops at various neighborhood locations.
• Atelier ChlotourminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrinting workshop that produced the 2026 edition of the Journal des Labos.
• Imprimerie EdgarminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrint shop handling the finishing work (façonnage) for the Journal des Labos 2025.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Palais de Tokyo: Major contemporary arts center in Paris offering residencies, exhibitions, and experimental programming across disciplines. Publicly funded with a similar focus on artist research and emerging forms, though at a much larger scale.
• Le CENTQUATRE-PARIS: Public contemporary arts center in Paris (104 rue d'Aubervilliers) offering residencies, workshops, exhibitions, and community programming. Highly comparable public-funded model with artist residency programs and free public events serving Paris-area audiences.
• DOC!: Independent contemporary art space in Paris supporting experimental practices across disciplines, with public programming and a non-commercial model. Comparable artist-first ethos in the same metropolitan ecosystem.
• Lafayette Anticipations: Paris-based contemporary art foundation housed in a heritage building, offering residencies, commissions, and exhibitions. Comparable combination of artist support, distinctive architectural setting, and public programming.
• Atelier de Paris / CDCN: National choreographic development center (CDCN) in Paris offering residencies, training, and public programming for dance and choreography. Directly comparable residency and community-focused model in the same region.
• La Gaîté Lyrique: Paris-based public venue dedicated to digital and contemporary arts, hosting residencies, exhibitions, and free public programming with public subsidies. Comparable mission of supporting artistic experimentation and reaching diverse audiences.
• Bétonsalon — Centre d'art et de recherche: Paris-based contemporary art and research center combining exhibitions, residencies, and a university partnership. Comparable integration of artistic research, public programming, and academic context.
• La Commune CDN — Aubervilliers: National Drama Center located in Aubervilliers, an existing partner of Les Laboratoires. Directly comparable as a publicly funded performing arts venue in the same city with shared residencies and audience overlap.
• CAC Brétigny: Contemporary art center in Brétigny (Île-de-France) with a residency and exhibition program focused on emerging artists. Comparable publicly funded mid-size venue with a regional profile and experimental programming.

Broad incumbents

• Centre Pompidou: National contemporary art museum and cultural center in Paris with much broader scope, larger budget, and a national audience. Overlaps in residency, exhibition, and publishing activities but operates at vastly greater scale as a state institution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LesLaboratoires
• Facebookfacebook.com/leslaboratoiresdaubervilliers
• Instagraminstagram.com/les_laboratoires
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/les-laboratoires

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Les Laboratoires d'Aubervilliers