An extraordinary woman and works
The 'La Coopérative-Musée Collection Cérès Franco' museum displays rare works from the second half of the 20th century: raw art, naïve Brazilian and European works, popular south American art, individual artists or those from the CoBrA movement or New Figuration.
'The hidden face of contemporary art'
A collection of international artists who the great modern art critic, Itzhak Goldberg calls, "The hidden face of contemporary art."
Take a tour through a surprising and colourful artistic world, at the Collection de Cérès Franco, in the heart of Montolieu, one of the eight book villages in France, just 20 minutes (18 km) from Carcassonne.
A visit to the Coopérative - Musée - Cérès Franco is:
- Amazement at the diversity in the colourful figurative works
- Discoving, with emotion, the unusual journey and fabulous art collection; from Brazil to Paris, via New York, Lagrasse and Montolieu.
- Sharing, with these artists from all over the world, the vivid emotions, intimate feelings or the most painful injuries they hold within them.
- Savouring the link between the beauty of the site and the beauty of the works. Stroll among the alcoves on the first floor or on the balcony ramp, like you're on the bridge of a steamboat dedicated to art. Bathed in sunlight, the carefully staged works shine.
- Meeting those who are passionate about the works, the museum guides, real weavers of dreams, or academics who lead 'Meetings' throughout the year, with themes such as history, philosophy, art or medieval literature.
Splendide lieu d’exposition et exposition magnifique ! Tous les ans mon plaisir est de venir découvrir la dernière exposition de La Coopérative. La collection de Cérès Franco est exceptionnelle et ce nouveau musée absolument magnifique. L'accueil est chaleureux... Je suis une inconditionnelle et je recommande vivement cette visite !
Quote by
Sophie L.
A short history
Cérès Franco, a life's work
From her homeland of Brazil to her house-museums in Lagrasse, via her L'œil de Bœuf gallery, rue Quincampoix in Paris and now La Coopérative - Musée à Montolieu, Cérès Franco, a long time art critic and gallery owner has always viewed her contemporaries with a sharp and sensitive look. As a woman in art, she has learned how to go beyond the visible, to read into the artists' hearts, and to create a unique collection, with her signature, like a grandmaster's on a painting.
Why such a Collection in Montolieu?
Over the years, Cérès Franco has acquired an unusual collection, the result of a daring choice of artists. Among the 1,800 works in the Collection, 100 or so of which are unveiled each year in a thematic exhibition, you find diverse techniques (painting, drawing, sculpture...) and a wide palette of figurative currents. It is a choice that is now celebrated for its coherence, the human aspect, and its intense feelings and emotions.
Located in Montolieu since 2015 à Montolieu, thanks to the will of a family, a patron and elected officials, the collection is going to take on a woderful new role. Cérès Franco is going to donate works to towns and villages, and so to the general public, so that this explosion of emotion and colour can continue to shine.
To share as widely as possible, that is the will of the Coopérative - Musée Cérès Franco. Each year, artistic workshops are run so that school children and open up to art and discover a museum. Led by their teachers and museum representatives, they visit the site and each child takes two hours to create an artistic work, with an artist, adapted to their age and school level.
Practical information
Tariff:
Full rate: €7
Reduced rate (under 16s, jobseekers): €4
Guided tours, Group and family welcome, Educational workshops: €10
Opening hours
Open from April to October
Every day except Monday, 2:00pm - 7:00pm
How to get there
GPS co-ordinates: lat. 43° 18' 22" - long. 2° 12' 55"
From Toulouse, take the A61, Bram exit, follow signs for Alzonne then Montolieu. La Coopérative is located at the entrance to the village.
From Narbonne, take the A61, Carcassonne Ouest exit. At the crossroads, follow signs for Toulouse, then take the D629 towards Montolieu. La Coopérative is located at the exit of the village.
Parking on site
