Around Current Rhythms

What Around Current Rhythms does

ARA - Autour des Rythmes Actuels (Around Current Rhythms) is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) founded around 1993 in Roubaix, Hauts-de-France, dedicated to contemporary music practice for all ages and backgrounds. Its core offering is a music learning school providing collective instruction across contemporary instruments (bass, drums, vocals, keyboard, guitar, percussion, saxophone, violin), DJing, computer-assisted music (MAO), rap writing, and choral singing, alongside the Double Dièse year-long artistic accompaniment program for amateur and emerging musicians. Layered on top are cultural-action programs (Chœur de Roubaix intergenerational choir, Quartiers en résonances sound walks, Jardin(s) des Sons, L'École du Micro d'Argent hip-hop choirs) and the Peace & Lobe hearing health promotion program, which reaches approximately 10,000 people annually in Hauts-de-France schools.

Technology is built around a collective, oral-transmission pedagogy augmented by computer-assisted music production tools (DAWs, loopers, samplers, effects pedals), experimental luthiery (wild luthiery) using recycled materials, urban percussion rooted in Brazilian batucada traditions, and dedicated electronic studio facilities. Operational platforms are lightweight third-party SaaS: HelloAsso for registration and payment, OpenAgenda for event distribution, Discord for member communication, and SoundCloud/YouTube for content distribution. ARA operates from the historic hôtel particulier Prouvost-Lepoutre at 301 avenue des Nations Unies in Roubaix, partially listed as a historic monument, with 12 permanent staff plus a network of musician and technician facilitators.

The business model is a hybrid community-led non-profit model. Revenue combines recurring membership and course fees (priced via a family-quotient accessibility tier system ranging from €120 to €250 annually per enrollee), short-term workshop and stage fees (€15–€40 per participant), and the dominant share of an approximately €900,000 annual budget funded by public subsidies from DRAC Hauts-de-France, Ville de Roubaix, Region Hauts-de-France, and other institutional partners under multi-year objective agreements. The customer base spans individual learners from age 3 to seniors, plus institutional partners across schools, hospitals (notably CHR de Lille), social services (Mission Locale, France Travail, E2C), and neighborhood associations across the Hauts-de-France region.

Name

Around Current Rhythms

Legal name

ARA - Autour des Rythmes Actuels

Website

https://ara-asso.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Education Services

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAGAC

Music (Instruments, Voice, Music Theory)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Personal Enrichment & Hobby Learning (Arts, Crafts, Music, Cooking)

SECONDARYEDAMANAD

Early Childhood Music Education (Ages 0–7)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Music Education (Instrumental & Vocal)

SECONDARYMPAGAEAH

Community Music & Dance Festivals (Non-Commercial/Local)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Cultural Festivals & Community Events

Keywords

• Music education services
• Contemporary music training
• Cultural community programs
• Music school programs
• Artistic accompaniment

Headquarters

HQ city

Roubaix

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership and Course Fees: Annual membership fees and course fees for music lessons, with pricing based on family quotient (QF) system for accessibility. Revenue generated through enrollment in various programs including instruments, vocal training, and thematic courses.
2. Public Funding and Subsidies: Annual budget of approximately 900,000 EUR largely supported by public funding from regional and local authorities including DRAC Hauts-de-France, Ville de Roubaix, and other institutional partners.
3. Stage and Workshop Fees: Short-term workshops and stages with specific fees (e.g., 15 EUR for ukulele workshop, 20-40 EUR for vocal stages), providing supplementary revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Around Current Rhythms is a French non-profit association founded in 1993 in Roubaix that delivers contemporary music education, artistic accompaniment, and cultural action programs. It operates a music school serving learners from age 3 through seniors, alongside outreach programs delivered in schools, neighborhoods, hospitals, and social-service settings across Hauts-de-France. The organization combines formal music instruction (including computer-assisted music) with community-based cultural initiatives and hearing-health awareness.

Product overview

ARA - Autour des Rythmes Actuels is a music education and cultural association offering a comprehensive ecosystem of programs. The core offering is its music learning school (Apprentissage Musical) providing collective instruction across contemporary instruments (bass, drums, vocals, keyboard, guitar, percussion, saxophone, violin), DJing, music production (MAO), rap writing, and choral singing for all ages from 3 years old to adults. This is complemented by the Double Dièse artist accompaniment program offering year-long mentorship for emerging amateur musicians. Cultural action programs include the Chœur de Roubaix community choir, Quartiers en résonances sound walks, and Jardin(s) des sons outdoor musical events. The Peace & Lobe hearing health promotion program provides educational interventions across Hauts-de-France schools. ARA also runs specialized projects including Electrons Libres (experimental instruments for youth with autism), L'École du Micro d'Argent (hip-hop choirs), Music Camp, and Studio Mobile. These offerings interlock to provide a complete pathway from early musical awakening through amateur practice to emerging artist development, all grounded in collective pedagogy and cultural accessibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Double Dièse: Artist accompaniment device for amateur musicians
• Peace & Lobe
• ARAchhh

Products and services

• Music School (École de musique) Continuous music instruction for students of all ages (from 3 years old to seniors), covering instrumental practice, vocal training, and contemporary music education at ARA's Roubaix facility.
• Double Dièse Music learning program targeted at school-age children, providing structured contemporary music discovery and training pathways.
• Peace & Lobe Cultural action program raising awareness about hearing health and safe listening practices, delivered in partnership with schools and youth audiences.
• Chœur de Roubaix Community choir program open to Roubaix residents, providing collective vocal practice and public performance opportunities in contemporary and traditional repertoire.
• Quartiers en Résonances Neighborhood cultural action program bringing music workshops and performances into priority districts of Roubaix and surrounding areas.
• Jardin(s) des Sons Early-childhood sound-discovery workshop for children from age 3, introducing sensory exploration and musical awakening through sound gardens and listening activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 10,000 people reached annually through hearing health promotion programs in Hauts-de-France
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Action Insertion CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership in conducting the Chœur de Roubaix choral project and other social integration through music initiatives. Co-develops cultural projects aimed at social cohesion and musical practice for all.
• La Cave aux Poètes (Scène Conventionnée d'Intérêt National)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for various projects including L'École du Micro d'Argent (hip-hop choir), residency programs, and co-organization of cultural events. Joint projects span schools, artistic creation, and cultural outreach.
• Le Grand MixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in the research project 'Musicien·nes & action culturelle : explorer les possibles!' exploring how musicians perceive and engage with cultural actions.
• La Lune des PiratesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in the research project on musicians and cultural action, exploring practices and possibilities in Hauts-de-France.
• DRAC Hauts-de-FrancecoreOthersRegional directorate of cultural affairs providing institutional funding and support for various ARA projects including Peace & Lobe hearing health program and other cultural initiatives.
• Ville de RoubaixcoreOthersCity of Roubaix providing funding and institutional support for ARA's activities, including music education, cultural projects, and hearing health programs.
• Mission Locale Roubaix / Lys-lez-LannoyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 'Garantie Jeunes' program providing music workshops for young job seekers, combining music creation with employment support.
• France Travail (formerly Pôle Emploi)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for music workshops targeting job seekers, including the 'Pitch ton expérience' project combining rap writing with job search skills.
• Centre Social ECHO (Roubaix)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighborhood social center partnership for the Chœur de Roubaix project and other community music initiatives.
• CHR de Lille - Hôpital Jeanne de FlandresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for music workshops with children in pediatric services, including hemodialysis and NEMH departments.
• Various Schools (École Jules Ferry, École Condorcet, Collège JB Lebas, Lycée Gambetta, etc.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with numerous educational institutions across Hauts-de-France for music workshops, PEPS programs, and cultural projects.
• DRAC Hauts-de-France (C mon Patrimoine)minorOthersFunding support for the 'Du fuseau à la M.A.O' project connecting textile heritage in Bailleul and Roubaix through music.
• We Loft MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for live music sessions at ARA, hosting artist performances in the historic mansion setting.
• Cie Difé Kako / Ballet du NordminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for ARAchhh (urban percussion collective) performance project with professional dance company.
• Ecole de la 2ème Chance (E2C)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in the Electrons Libres project, bringing together young people from E2C with those from care facilities for instrument building workshops.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Sistema Scotland: Scottish charity delivering intensive collective music-making to children in disadvantaged areas. International comparable for the social-mission pedagogy and sustained public/philanthropic funding model.
• Youth Music (UK): UK charity funding and supporting music-education projects for children and young people facing barriers. Comparable for grant-funded music-education program portfolio and nonprofit operating model.
• Harmony Project (Los Angeles): US non-profit providing free music instruction to youth from low-income communities. Comparable for combining collective music education with social-mission delivery and institutional partnership model.

Direct peers

• Jeunesses Musicales de France: French non-profit dedicated to music education and access for young people, offering concerts, workshops, and educational programs nationwide. Directly comparable as a French non-profit combining music learning, cultural action, and partnerships with schools and institutions.
• Orchestre à l'École: French non-profit that places orchestras within schools to provide collective music practice and cultural outreach. Comparable as a membership-style music-education association working through school and institutional partnerships across France.
• Sistema France: French branch of the El Sistema network providing intensive collective music education to children from underserved communities. Comparable for its social-mission music pedagogy and public-funding-backed delivery model.
• Action Insertion Culture: Roubaix-based non-profit using cultural practice for social insertion, co-developing the Chœur de Roubaix with ARA. Closely comparable mission and operating territory in music-based social-inclusion programs.

Regional players

• Conservatoire à Rayonnement Communal de Roubaix: Municipal music school in Roubaix offering classical and contemporary instrumental instruction. Local adjacent competitor in Roubaix, with overlapping music-education audience but more traditional curriculum.
• Le Grand Bleu: Concert venue and music nonprofit based in Lille, Hauts-de-France, programming contemporary music and supporting artist development. Regional peer operating in the same territory with overlapping artist-accompaniment and music-outreach mission.

Broad incumbents

• La Cave aux Poètes: Scène Conventionnée d'Intérêt National in Hauts-de-France producing contemporary music programming and residencies. Already an ARA partner; broader regional venue incumbent working on shared projects (L'École du Micro d'Argent).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCr6QAB_Z-edJAMrh9Ib1ZRA
• Facebookfacebook.com/AutourDesRythmesActuels
• Instagraminstagram.com/ara_asso
• Xx.com/ara_asso
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ara-autour-des-rythmes-actuels

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Around Current Rhythms