carre colonnes.

What carre colonnes. does

Scène nationale Carré-Colonnes is a French public cultural institution (Établissement public de coopération culturelle, EPCC) co-managed by the municipalities of Saint-Médard-en-Jalles and Blanquefort in the Bordeaux metropolitan area. Founded in 2010 through the merger of Le Carré (Saint-Médard-en-Jalles) and Les Colonnes (Blanquefort), the institution programs and produces live performing arts — theater, dance, music, and circus — across its two venues and the participatory Le Jardin Secret site, an artistic vegetable garden created in 2021 with Opéra Pagaï that is documented as the first of its kind at a French Scène nationale. It co-organizes two festivals, Festival Échappée Belle (annual outdoor festival at Parc de Fongravey) and the biennial FAB – Festival International des Arts de Bordeaux Métropole (which has held the EFFE European Festival label since 2016), reaching approximately 300 performances per year, supporting more than 20 resident companies, and engaging over 3,000 school children annually through Journées Jeune Public and the FABuleux lycéen·nes program.

The operational backbone comprises Le Carré (headquarters and main theater at Place de la République, Saint-Médard), Les Colonnes (4 rue du Docteur Castéra, Blanquefort), Le Jardin Secret (entered via avenue de la Boétie, Saint-Médard), and the online ticketing platform billetterie.carrecolonnes.fr. The institution is supported by approximately 25 permanent employees plus intermittent technical and artistic staff, and is governed by a board chaired by Véronique Ferreira (Mayor of Blanquefort) with Stéphane Delpeyrat (Mayor of Saint-Médard) as Vice-President. Le Jardin Secret employs a full-time market gardener-mediator (Barbara Joly), engages approximately 1,000 'seeder·euses' participants, and publishes a bimonthly newsletter (Newslaitues, 23+ editions).

The business model is anchored in multi-tier public funding from Ville de Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, Ville de Blanquefort, DRAC Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Département de la Gironde, Bordeaux Métropole, and iddac, supplemented by box office revenue (individual tickets €9–€33, carnet 10-place bundles at €15/place), corporate CE packages coordinated by a mediation team, educational programs (school visits, side-coulisses, Enseignants complices collective), and ancillary bar and catering services. Distribution occurs through on-site box offices, telephone booking, the online platform, and direct sales to corporate employee committees. A structured RSO (Responsabilité Sociétale des Organisations) framework has been in place since 2019, coached by Caisse des dépôts et consignations. The institution is a member of national networks including the 78 Scènes nationales, SYNDEAC, Réseau LOOP, and France Festivals, and participates in the Bordeaux Métropole Collectif Scènes Ensemble coalition of six labeled theaters.

Name

carre colonnes.

Legal name

Scène nationale Carré-Colonnes

Website

https://carrecolonnes.fr

Company type

Public

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Scène nationale Carré-Colonnes is a French public cultural institution operating two performing arts venues in the Bordeaux metropolitan area, presenting theater, dance, music, and circus. Founded in 2010, it serves general audiences, schools, and corporate partners across Nouvelle-Aquitaine through multi-tier government funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Live theater performances
• Contemporary dance programming
• Cultural education programs
• Arts festivals organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-Médard-en-Jalles

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales and subscriptions: Individual tickets, carnets (10-show bundles), and reduced-rate packages for youth, seniors, job seekers, and Pass Culture holders. Box office open Tuesday–Friday in person, by phone, and online.
2. Public funding and subsidies: Core operating funding from Ville de Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, Ville de Blanquefort, DRAC Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Département de la Gironde, Bordeaux Métropole, and iddac.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Scène nationale Carré-Colonnes is a French national theater scene operating two venues (Le Carré in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles and Les Colonnes in Blanquefort) that presents live performing arts including theater, dance, music, and circus. It co-organizes two major festivals (Échappée Belle and FAB – Festival International des Arts de Bordeaux Métropole), runs educational programs for schools, and operates Le Jardin Secret, a participatory artistic vegetable garden created with Opéra Pagaï.

Product overview

Carré-Colonnes is a Scène nationale (national theater scene) operating as a dual-venue performing arts center near Bordeaux, France. The organization encompasses Le Carré in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles and Les Colonnes in Blanquefort as its two main performance venues. The portfolio includes live theatrical performances across multiple disciplines (theater, dance, music, circus), the innovative Le Jardin Secret (Secret Garden) artistic vegetable garden project created with Opéra Pagaï, and two major festivals: Échappée Belle and the FAB (Festival International des Arts de Bordeaux Métropole). Additional offerings include an online ticketing system, educational programs for schools, and bar/catering services. The organization functions as a cultural infrastructure supporting over 20 companies annually with production, rehearsal spaces, and artistic networking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Le Jardin Secret: A participatory artistic vegetable garden created with Opéra Pagaï, the first of its kind at a French Scène nationale. Located near Le Carré in Saint-Médard, it combines art, nature, and community engagement.

Products and services

• Le Carré (Saint-Médard-en-Jalles) Main performance venue in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles hosting live theater, dance, music, and circus productions, with on-site box office and bar.
• Les Colonnes (Blanquefort) Secondary performance venue in Blanquefort providing additional performance space for the cultural programming, with its own independent box office.
• Le Jardin Secret Artistic vegetable garden serving as a participatory space combining art, nature, and community engagement, with a full-time market gardener-mediator, 1,000+ participant seeders, and seasonal newsletters (Newslaitues).
• Festival Échappée Belle 4-day outdoor performing arts festival with dedicated school days (Journées Jeune Public) hosting 3,000+ children; 35th edition scheduled 27–30 May 2027.
• FAB – Festival International des Arts de Bordeaux Métropole International performing arts festival co-organized with other Bordeaux Métropole venues; next edition FAB 26 runs 26 September – 10 October 2026.
• Online Ticketing Platform (Billetterie en ligne) Secure online ticket purchasing system with email delivery, account management for ticket downloads, and full season programming visibility.
• Educational Programs for Schools School-specific cultural programming including pedagogical resources, guided theater visits, artistic and cultural education (EAC) projects, and the Enseignants complices teacher collective, serving 3,000+ children annually.
• Bar and Catering Services Bar and restaurant services open before and after performances at both Le Carré and Les Colonnes, featuring locally sourced and organic products with a 10% restaurant discount at Green Shack for ticket holders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 300 performances per year across two venues
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ville de Saint-Médard-en-JallescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary municipal partner and co-founder of the Scène nationale. Provides operational support, venue hosting, and co-financing. Holds seats on the board of directors including the Vice-President of the CA. Located at Place de la République, 33160 Saint-Médard-en-Jalles.
• Ville de BlanquefortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecondary municipal partner hosting Les Colonnes venue. Co-organizes the Échappée Belle festival with the Scène nationale. Holds President seat on the CA. Located at 4 rue du Docteur Castéra, Blanquefort.
• DRAC Nouvelle-AquitainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirection Régionale des Affaires Culturales — the regional cultural authority of the French Ministry of Culture. Provides state funding and expert committee oversight for theater and dance creation in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
• Région Nouvelle-AquitainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional council providing structural funding for the Scène nationale and its artistic programming, festivals, and Paysages en partage EAC project.
• Département de la GirondecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartmental council supporting the venue and its EAC projects, including Paysages en partage with the iddac.
• Bordeaux MétropolecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetropolitan authority providing structural funding and co-organizing the FAB festival as part of the Bordeaux metropolitan cultural ecosystem.
• iddac (Institut Départemental du Développement Artistique et Culturel)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartmental arts and culture agency co-funding EAC projects (Paysages en partage) and animating the regional mediation network to which the Scène nationale belongs.
• Opéra PagaïcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated company specializing in public space creation. Created Le Jardin Secret with the Scène nationale during the 2020 lockdown. Responsible for Coulée douce and Jardin d'Hiver installations. Active collaborator in all garden-related participatory projects. Website: operapagai.com
• Compagnie VolubiliscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated dance company led by choreographer Agnès Pelletier. Created Extraordinaires series during lockdown, Panique Olympique (2,000+ dancers), and Habiter n'est pas dormir. Website: compagnie-volubilis.com
• Académie de BordeauxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBordeaux academy of education (Rectorat) partner in school EAC projects, including classes à projet artistique et culturel (PAC) and side-coulisses school visit weeks.
• Université Bordeaux MontaigneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner for higher education cultural pathways, student visits, and academic collaborations. One of several higher education partners including estba, ICART, 3iS Bordeaux, and PESMD Bordeaux.
• Collectif Scènes Ensemble (Bordeaux Métropole)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective of 6 labeled theaters in Bordeaux Métropole (La Manufacture CDCN, T4S, Glob Théâtre, Opéra National de Bordeaux, TnBA, Carré-Colonnes) created in 2020 to share experiences, means, and collectively advocate for live performance as a public good.
• Communauté de communes Médoc EstuaireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInter-municipal community partnering in the Paysages en partage EAC project and extending the Scène nationale's reach into the Médoc territory.
• Communauté de communes MédullienneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInter-municipal community co-partner in the Paysages en partage EAC project covering the Médoc territory.
• Réseau des 78 Scènes nationales de FranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network of 78 Scènes nationales — a decentralized public theater network serving as the backbone of French live arts outside Paris. Carré-Colonnes participates in collective advocacy and circulation of works through this network.
• FAB – Festival International des Arts de Bordeaux MétropolecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiennial international arts festival co-organized with 5 other theaters in Bordeaux Métropole. Carré-Colonnes co-directs the festival (FAB 26: 26 September – 10 October 2026; FAB 2027: dates TBC). The FAB holds the EFFE label since 2016.
• Festival Échappée BellecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner4-day outdoor performing arts festival held at Parc de Fongravey, Blanquefort, co-organized with Ville de Blanquefort and ABCS association. 35th edition scheduled 27–30 May 2027. Features young public days (Journées Jeune Public) hosting 3,000+ children.
• SYNDEACminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSyndicat National des Entreprises Artistiques et Culturales — the professional union representing 400+ performing arts institutions. Provides collective bargaining, policy advocacy, and professional development for its members including Scènes nationales.
• OARA (Office Artistique de la Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional arts office supporting artist circulation and distribution within and beyond Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
• ONDA (Office National de Diffusion Artistique)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational office for artistic distribution supporting the reach and touring of French productions nationally and internationally.
• Caisse des dépôts et consignationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic financial institution co-funding the Paysages en partage EAC project and providing social responsibility (RSO) coaching to the Scène nationale since 2019.
• La Manufacture CDCN Nouvelle-AquitaineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre de Développement Chorégraphique National based in La Rochelle, part of the Scènes Ensemble collective and a partner in residency and co-production networks.
• Réseau LOOPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational dance and youth network (Réseau national d'échange et de partage autour de la danse à l'attention de la jeunesse) bringing together 23 members for choreographic project collaboration and professional exchange on youth dance programming.
• France FestivalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational federation of 80+ French festivals since over 60 years, supporting collective development and eco-responsibility. The FAB has been a member since 2017.
• SUD OUESTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional daily newspaper and media partner providing press coverage and visibility for the Scène nationale's programming and festivals.
• France Bleu GirondeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional public radio partner (Ici Radio Tv Digital) providing media visibility for performances and events.
• Transports Bordeaux Métropole (TBM)minorOthersPublic transportation authority whose logo appears in partner listings, facilitating audience access to Le Carré and Les Colonnes via tram line D, bus lines 22/38, and express line G.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Théâtre National Populaire (TNP) Villeurbanne: National theater in Lyon metro offering theater, dance, and contemporary performance with a public-funding model and festival programming. Comparable as a larger publicly funded performing-arts institution, but at greater scale and with a national-theater (rather than Scène nationale) label.

Direct peers

• La Comédie de Clermont-Ferrand - Scène nationale: Scène nationale in Clermont-Ferrand with comparable dual-site operations, festival programming, and public-funding structure. Comparable as a mid-sized French Scène nationale of similar scale and audience-development profile.
• CDN de Bordeaux - Théâtre du Port de la Lune: Centre Dramatique National located in Bordeaux, programming theater and contemporary performance. Directly comparable as a national-label performing-arts institution in the same metropolitan catchment with shared municipal and regional funding.
• Le Quartz - Scène nationale de Brest: Major Scène nationale in Brest with multi-disciplinary programming (theater, dance, music, circus) and comparable public-funding model. Comparable as a non-Parisian Scène nationale of similar institutional scale and label-aligned programming.
• TnBA - Théâtre National de Bordeaux en Aquitaine: Bordeaux-based national theater (CDN) and co-member of Collectif Scènes Ensemble. Directly comparable as a French national-label performing-arts institution in the same metropolitan catchment with overlapping programming, festival co-organization, and shared public-funding base.
• Opéra National de Bordeaux: Bordeaux-based opera house and co-member of Collectif Scènes Ensemble. Directly comparable as a publicly funded performing-arts institution in the same metropolitan catchment co-organizing the FAB festival and drawing on overlapping municipal/regional funding.
• La Manufacture CDCN Nouvelle-Aquitaine: Regional Centre de Développement Chorégraphique National based in La Rochelle and co-member of Collectif Scènes Ensemble with Carré-Colonnes. Comparable as a publicly funded performing-arts institution producing and touring contemporary dance in Nouvelle-Aquitaine with similar multi-funder structure.
• Le Manège - Scène nationale de Maubeuge: Scène nationale based in Maubeuge operating a comparable dual/multi-site model with theater, dance, and circus programming and similar multi-tier public funding. Closest structural analog as a non-metropolitan Scène nationale serving a mid-sized catchment.
• Glob Théâtre: Bordeaux-based theater company and co-member of Collectif Scènes Ensemble. Comparable as a small-scale, publicly supported producing theater in the same metropolitan area with overlapping audiences and festival partnerships.

Emerging players

• Sadler's Wells: London-based international dance and performing-arts presenting house with multiple performance spaces and festival programming. Comparable as a publicly supported, multi-disciplinary presenting venue with strong audience-development and education outreach, though operating at significantly larger scale and in a different national policy environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLejPE5AUGeGoS8tOWJ5Fin_DFAB4JNvHr
• Facebookfacebook.com/carrecolonnes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carre-colonnes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 carre colonnes.