LA CARENE

What LA CARENE does

La Carène (legal entity REMA La Carène) is a non-profit Scène de Musiques Actuelles (SMAC) located at 30 rue Jean-Marie Le Bris, Port de Commerce in Brest, France. Established in 2007 as the designated SMAC of Brest Métropole, the venue operates two concert halls — Le Club with 350 seats and La Grande Salle with 1,300 seats — for a combined capacity of 1,650, alongside six rehearsal studios, one recording studio, and a centre info-ressources. It is described in source material as a unique facility of its kind in Brittany. Customers span the general public, amateur and professional musicians, schools, healthcare institutions, and residents of priority neighborhoods.

The core technology footprint is modest and operationally focused: a physical venue infrastructure, an SPIP-based eco-designed website achieving 97.6/100 PageSpeed with 467KB average page weight, and an in-house online ticketing system at labilletterie.lacarene.fr supplemented by national reseller networks (FNAC, Cultura, Leclerc). No proprietary software products or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed. Programs span ticketed concerts, Midi & Demi free lunch concerts, the Studiorama intimate studio series, the Bunker Brestois electro event with Astropolis, Festival Confettis, and cultural action initiatives including Le Kraken (an accessible musical instrument project created in 2018 with CHRU de Brest), Radio Ciboulot web radio at Bohars psychiatric hospital, and the Kerourien Valy Hir neighborhood jumelage.

The business model combines earned income (concert tickets at €3-€27, studio subscriptions at €10 per musician, workshop fees such as €470 for Afrobeat, and bar/catering) with public subsidies from Brest Métropole, DRAC Bretagne, Région Bretagne, and Ville de Brest. The organization received ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management in 2024. La Carène is governed as a cultural association under French non-profit norms, with no private ownership, venture capital, or parent-company relationships indicated in the source data.

Name

LA CARENE

Legal name

REMA La Carène

Website

https://lacarene.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

La Carène is a non-profit contemporary music venue (SMAC) in Brest, France, operating two concert halls (1,650 total capacity), six rehearsal studios, and a recording studio. It serves the general public, musicians, schools, and healthcare institutions under the Brest Métropole public funding mandate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Music Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Live Music Clubs & Venues (MPAGAIAB), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL)

Keywords

• Live music venue
• Concert hall operations
• Rehearsal studios
• Cultural action programs
• Performing arts services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brest

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. Ticket sales: La Carène generates revenue through ticket sales for concerts and events, with pricing tiers for subscribers and standard audiences. Tickets are sold through its own online box office system and in some cases through external networks (FNAC, Cultura, Leclerc) when co-produced with external promoters.
2. Studio rental and subscriptions: The venue operates 6 rehearsal studios and 1 recording studio, generating revenue through musician subscriptions (10€ per musician) and hourly/daily studio rental. These studios support amateur and professional musicians with technical and artistic support.
3. Bar and catering: A bar is operated during events, generating revenue from food and beverage sales.
4. Public subsidies and institutional funding: As a SMAC (Scene de Musiques Actuelles) funded by Brest Métropole, the venue receives ongoing public subsidies. Additional project-based funding comes from DRAC Bretagne, Région Bretagne, and Ville de Brest for specific cultural action programs.
5. Cultural action workshops and training: Revenue from paid workshops and training programs such as Afrobeat/Ethnojazz annual workshops (470€ + subscription), vocal technique workshops, and other skills-based training sessions offered to the public.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LA CARENE operates a contemporary music venue (Scène de Musiques Actuelles / SMAC) in Brest, France, hosting live concerts in two halls (350 and 1,300 seats), renting out six rehearsal studios and one recording studio to musicians and bands, and running cultural action, training, and outreach programs. It also runs an info-resources centre, free lunchtime concert series, and a community radio project.

Product overview

La Carène is a Scène de Musiques Actuelles (SMAC) venue located at Brest's port de Commerce since 2007. The venue operates two concert halls (Le Club with 350 seats and La Grande Salle with 1300 seats), six rehearsal studios including one recording studio, and a center info-ressources. The venue offers ticketing services, cultural action programs, artist support with residencies, and various workshops. Notable programs include Le Kraken (accessible music project), Radio projects at psychiatric hospitals, Midi & Demi free concerts, Bunker Brestois electro events, and the Confettis festival. The venue received ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management in 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Le Club (Salle de concert 350 places) 350-seat concert hall hosting live contemporary music performances for the general public in Brest.
• La Grande Salle (Salle de concert 1 300 places) 1,300-seat main concert hall for large-scale live contemporary music performances.
• Studios de répétition Six rehearsal studios rented to amateur and professional musicians and bands for music practice.
• Studio d'enregistrement Recording studio available to musicians and bands for music production.
• Centre info-ressources Information and resource centre providing documentation and guidance on contemporary music for musicians, students, and the general public.
• Programmes d'action culturelle Cultural action and outreach programs including workshops, training sessions, and educational activities run in partnership with schools, healthcare institutions, and local associations.
• Le Kraken (Radio) Community radio project producing and broadcasting content tied to the venue's contemporary music programming.
• Midi & Demi (Concerts gratuits) Free lunchtime concert series offering live music to the general public during weekday midday slots.
• Studiorama Annual showcase event presenting musicians and bands that use the venue's rehearsal and recording studios.
• Le Bunker Brestois Music event / production associated with the venue's contemporary music programming.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1650 total concert capacity across two halls, with 7 studios for musicians
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Astropolis FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAstropolis is a major partner for several events at La Carène, including the Bunker Brestois electro night and Astropolis L'Hiver programming. The festival co-produces events and contributes programming expertise and audience reach.
• HF+ BretagnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa Carène is a member of HF+ Bretagne and signatory of the HF Pact, an organization fighting for real equality between genders in arts and culture in Brittany. The partnership drives the venue's gender equality programming including the Matrimoine event series.
• STOURMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTOURM is the regional mission for combating gender inequalities and sexual violence in contemporary music in Brittany, co-piloted by Astropolis, Collectif des Festivals, HF+ Bretagne, and others. La Carène participates in this initiative.
• Centre Hospitalier Régional et Universitaire de BrestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa Carène partners with CHRU de Brest on cultural programs in psychiatric services, including the Kraken adapted music project, Radio Ciboulot web radio, and Boum Boum Tourbillon artist residencies, supported by the Culture Santé DRAC-ARS program.
• Centre Social Couleur Quartier and Maison Pour Tous du Valy HirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners in the Vert Bitume cultural action project and the jumelage with Kerourien Valy Hir neighborhood, supporting artist-led activities in community gardens and local cultural programming.
• IWAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIWA (Initiatives des WAves) partners with La Carène to organize annual Afrobeat and Ethnojazz workshops. Registration and payment for workshops are managed through IWA's ticketing system.
• SESSAD Autisme de BrestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa Carène maintains a partnership with SESSAD Autisme (a specialized autism support service) to provide music-based cultural activities for young people with autism.
• Fréquence MutineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal community radio partner broadcasting Midi & Demi concert series live and covering Matrimoine events and other programming, extending La Carène's reach through radio coverage.
• Le Jardin ModerneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining organization in Rennes, Brittany, that co-organizes professional training sessions at La Carène on topics such as payroll administration for permanent and intermittent cultural sector employees.
• Penn Ar DeadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation co-producing the Matrimoine event series and Karaoke activities at La Carène, supporting feminist and gender-minority programming.
• Collectif 'Ici c'est cool'minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective working on preventing sexist and sexual violence in festive environments. La Carène is an adherent member, implementing VHSS protocols and awareness measures.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Le Fil: SMAC in Saint-Étienne with two concert halls (standing and seated) plus rehearsal studios. Direct peer in scale and SMAC governance model, with similar dépendance on public subsidies.
• Le Grand Mix: SMAC in Tourcoing (northern France) operating a club-format concert venue and studios with public subsidies. Comparable in scale and programming orientation toward emerging and established contemporary music acts.
• Antipode: SMAC venue in Rennes, Brittany, with a comparable model of two concert halls, rehearsal studios, and cultural action programs funded by the métropole. Closest geographic and structural peer to La Carène within Brittany's SMAC network.
• Le Tetris: SMAC venue at Le Havre managed by a private operator under public service delegation, with two halls and rehearsal studios. Comparable venue model with a different governance structure (DSP vs association).
• La Sirène: SMAC venue in La Rochelle with two halls and rehearsal studios, publicly funded by the agglomeration. Direct peer in the SMAC network with similar mix of ticketed concerts, studio rentals, and cultural outreach.
• Le Transbordeur: Lyon-based contemporary music venue and SMAC with a ~1,800-capacity hall plus club space and studios. Comparable operating model of a large-capacity concert venue with cultural action mandate and public funding, but at significantly larger scale.
• Le Rocher de Palmer: SMAC in Cenon (Bordeaux metropolitan area) operating two halls plus studios and a strong cultural action program. Comparable integrated venue with similar public funding profile and program breadth.
• La Vapeur: SMAC in Dijon with two concert spaces and rehearsal studios, structured around current music programming and cultural action. Direct functional peer within the French SMAC network.

Broad incumbents

• Live Nation France: Largest global live entertainment promoter with French operations including venue management and festival promotion. Broader incumbent that competes for touring artist bookings and ticketing scale, against which La Carène's local programming is differentiated.

Emerging players

• Astropolis: Major electronic music festival and programming partner based in Brest that co-produces events (Bunker Brestois) at La Carène. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but materially shapes La Carène's electro programming and audience overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lacarene
• Facebookfacebook.com/lacarenebrest
• Instagraminstagram.com/lacarene.brest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/la-carene

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 LA CARENE