MJC Castelnau-le-Lez

What MJC Castelnau-le-Lez does

MJC Castelnau-le-Lez is a French non-profit community association (Loi 1901) founded in 1970 and headquartered in Castelnau-le-Lez, a commune in the Hérault department near Montpellier. It operates as a Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture (House of Youth and Culture) and self-identifies as the largest MJC in France by membership, with approximately 4,000 active members annually. The association delivers roughly 100 leisure, cultural, and sports activities organized into two main categories — cultural programs (52%, including music, theater, visual arts, languages, and cinema) and sports programs (48%, including fitness, martial arts, team sports, dance, and wellness). It serves children and teenagers (ages 3-18), adults, and families through two principal venues — Centre André Malraux (headquarters) and Les Arcades (fitness/dance) — supplemented by municipal facilities including the Palais des Sports Jacques-Chaban-Delmas and Piscine Alex Jany. Two resident artistic troupes are hosted: Théâtre du Triangle (amateur theater, awarded the Prix Camille Mugnier at the 2019 Festival des Escholiers) and Les Démons du Midi (improv comedy).

The operational stack is anchored by the Aniapp online registration platform for member enrollment and activity sign-ups, supported by a Bi-way reservation system for event ticketing, a WordPress website built by Studio Gazoline and hosted on OVH, and HelloAsso for ticket sales. Specialized capital equipment includes a 400L SOLARGIL pottery kiln acquired in 2020 to support ceramics workshops, and the long-running École de Musique program celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2023. Governance is provided by a Conseil d'Administration led by Présidente Martine Plane, with Directrice Hélène Chanteloup overseeing operations and 57 volunteers supplementing paid staff.

The revenue model combines mandatory annual membership fees (€29 individual / €46 family for the 2026-2027 season, non-refundable), activity-specific fees (with a 10% surcharge for non-residents under a municipal protocol), event ticket sales (typically €3-8), and specialized workshop fees (e.g., €150 for summer sewing workshops). As an association recognized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and affiliated with FRMJC Languedoc-Roussillon and the Confédération des MJC de France, the MJC also receives municipal and departmental subsidies from the City of Castelnau-le-Lez and the Département de l'Hérault.

Name

MJC Castelnau-le-Lez

Legal name

Association Castelnauvienne pour la Jeunesse, la Culture, les Loisirs et les Sports

Website

https://mjc-castelnau.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

MJC Castelnau-le-Lez is a French non-profit community association and the largest MJC in France by membership, serving ~4,000 members annually through ~100 cultural and sports activities across two main facilities in Castelnau-le-Lez.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Cultural and Leisure Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

Keywords

• Community leisure programs
• Cultural activity classes
• Sports and fitness activities
• Music education programs
• Youth community services

Headquarters

HQ city

Castelnau-le-Lez

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Mandatory annual membership fee: 29€ per individual, 46€ per family (season 2026-2027). Non-refundable and required for participation in any activity.
2. Activity fees: Activity-specific fees charged in addition to membership, with a 10% price differential between Castelnau-le-Lez residents and non-residents per a municipal protocol agreement. Fees are not refundable except via optional 20€/person/activity guarantee fund.
3. Event ticket sales: Revenue from ticket sales for performances, spectacles, galas, and cultural events via HelloAsso and the Bi-way reservation platform. Ticket prices vary (e.g., 5€/3€ for Demons du Midi improv shows, 6€-8€ for Madame Tout le Monde theatre, 150€ for summer sewing workshop).
4. Workshop fees: Fees for specialized short-term programs such as summer sewing camps (e.g., 150€ per child for a 5-day sewing workshop), adult workshops, and stage programs. Materials may be included.
5. Municipal and departmental subsidies: As a Loi 1901 association recognized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, affiliated with FRMJC and Confédération des MJC de France, the association receives financial support from the municipality of Castelnau-le-Lez and the Hérault department, reflected in the preferential pricing for residents.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MJC Castelnau-le-Lez is a community cultural and sports association offering approximately 100 activities per year, distributed roughly 52% cultural and 48% sports, including music education, dance, fitness/gym, martial arts, visual arts, languages, theater, wellness, team sports, outdoor activities, sciences, and board games, serving approximately 4,000 members annually in Castelnau-le-Lez, France. Programming is delivered primarily through the Centre Culturel André Malraux and additional venues across the commune, with two resident artistic companies producing theater and improv performances.

Product overview

MJC Castelnau-le-Lez is a community cultural and leisure association offering a diverse portfolio of approximately 100 activities organized into cultural (52%) and sports (48%) offerings. The core product ecosystem consists of the Aniapp digital registration platform for managing member subscriptions, combined with in-person activity programs spanning music education, fitness, dance, martial arts, visual arts, theater, language learning, outdoor activities, and science programs. The association also hosts resident artistic troupes including Théâtre du Triangle (theater) and Les Démons du Midi (improv comedy), and organizes annual events such as the Festival des Adhérents showcasing member performances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aniapp: Plateforme numérique pour les inscriptions en ligne aux activités de la MJC
• Centre André Malraux
• Les Arcades
• Ecole de Musique
• Les Démons du MIDI
• Théâtre du Triangle

Products and services

• Music School (École de Musique) Instrumental and vocal music education program offered to members of all ages as one of the MJC's flagship cultural pillars.
• Gym, Musculation and Fitness (Gym / Muscu / Fitness) Strength training and fitness classes delivered as a core sports offering for adult members.
• Dance (Danses) Group dance classes spanning multiple styles, offered to members across age groups.
• Martial Arts (Arts Martiaux) Martial arts classes (e.g., karate, judo, aikido and related disciplines) taught by qualified instructors.
• Fine Arts (Beaux Arts) Visual arts workshops covering drawing, painting and related plastic arts for members of various ages.
• Visual and Living Arts (Arts de l'image et du vivant) Workshops covering photography, video, cinema and performing arts extensions taught within the cultural pillar.
• Wellness (Bien-être) Yoga, relaxation, and body-mind wellness classes offered as cultural/wellness sessions.
• Team Sports (Sports Collectifs) Team-based sports leagues and training sessions (e.g., basketball, football, handball, volleyball, rugby) for members.
• Languages (Linguistique) Foreign-language courses and conversation workshops across multiple languages for adults and children.
• Outdoor Activities (Plein Air) Outdoor and nature-based excursions, hikes, and environmentally themed outings organized for members.
• Sciences (Sciences) Educational science workshops and discovery activities (astronomy, robotics, scientific culture) for members.
• Board Games (Jeux de Réflexion) Strategy, reflection and modern board-game meet-ups and clubs hosted for members and the wider public.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~4,000 members annually, making it the #1 MJC in France by member count
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ADY MontpellierminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 September 2025New partnership announced September 2025. ADY Montpellier is recognized for its expertise in sewing machines, embroidery, and creative leisure equipment. The partnership provides sewing machines and an overlocker for MJC workshops, and MJC members benefit from ADY's product expertise and equipment support.
• Le Géant des Beaux-Arts Castelnau-le-LezminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArt supplies partner providing a 15% discount to MJC fine arts section members. Adherents receive a discount card from MJC reception, activated in store. Discount not valid on books or promotions.
• Culture & Sport Solidaire 34coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCulture & Sport Solidaires 34 operates within the framework of the anti-exclusion law of July 1998, promoting equal access to culture for all. Their mission aligns directly with the MJC's community and social objectives.
• Chambre Régionale de l'Économie Sociale et Solidaire Occitanie (CRESS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chamber for the social and solidarity economy in Occitanie. The MJC, as a Loi 1901 association, falls within the ESS sector and benefits from CRESS representation and resources.
• Fédération Régionale des Maisons des Jeunes et de la Culture (M.J.C.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MJC is affiliated with the FRMJC Languedoc-Roussillon (now Occitanie) and the Confédération des MJC de France, which provides institutional recognition, support, and networking across the MJC network in France.
• La ville de Castelnau-le-LezcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipality of Castelnau-le-Lez is the primary local government partner, providing financial support and facilities. In return, local residents receive a 10% discount on activity fees per a municipal protocol agreement. The city also hosts the Forum des Associations at municipal venues.
• Département de l'HéraultcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hérault department provides financial and institutional support to the association as part of its cultural and sports development mission for the territory.
• No Smoking ProductionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFilm production company that collaborates with the MJC on cinema workshops for teenagers, producing short films that are screened at MJC events. The partnership produces the annual short film showcase at the end of each season.
• Guitares PlusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerA classical guitar ensemble of 7 guitars, a flutist, and a cello that has rehearsed at the MJC for 20 years. They offer masterclasses to MJC guitar students and give public performances, enriching the music school's programming.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MJC de Montpellier: Another MJC in the Hérault/Occitanie region offering a comparable portfolio of cultural, sports, and leisure activities under the same Loi 1901 association framework. Most directly comparable as a community-led MJC serving a similar metropolitan-adjacent population.
• Centres Sociaux de France: National network of 'centres sociaux' — French community centers delivering cultural, educational, and recreational programming to local populations. Directly comparable as parallel community-based associations offering multi-domain leisure activities for all ages, often with similar municipal funding structures.

Others

• Fédération Française Sports pour Tous: National federation for amateur and recreational sports clubs in France. Comparable as an ecosystem partner governing many of the same sports disciplines (fitness, martial arts, dance, wellness) that MJC Castelnau-le-Lez delivers directly.
• Fédération Française de Danse: National governing body for dance in France, overseeing affiliated clubs and instructors. Comparable as a federation providing standards, instructor certification, and competitive pathways that intersect with the MJC's dance program offerings.
• Ligue de l'Enseignement: France's largest civic education federation, operating complementary educational and cultural programs through affiliated local associations. Comparable as an adjacent French non-profit network focused on education, culture, and community engagement with similar municipal subsidy dynamics.
• FRMJC Occitanie (Fédération Régionale des MJC): Regional federation governing MJC associations across the Occitanie region. Comparable as the immediate institutional parent organization that supports MJC Castelnau-le-Lez through resources, training, and representation; not a direct competitor but a governing/ecosystem body.

Broad incumbents

• UCPA (Union nationale des Centres sportifs de Plein Air): Major French non-profit recreation and sports network operating vacation centers and sports programs nationwide. Comparable as a large French non-profit delivering organized leisure and sports activities at scale, though with a different geographic (vacation) focus.
• Confédération des MJC de France: National umbrella body for the MJC network. Comparable as the federation of which MJC Castelnau-le-Lez is an affiliated member, providing institutional legitimacy, programming resources, and national visibility across the French MJC ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7oTleRPLqIu6yHlIO4p5Qw
• Facebookfacebook.com/mjccastelnau
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mjc-castelnau-le-lez

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 MJC Castelnau-le-Lez