New 200-capacity “cooperative nightlife and arts venue” to open in Marseille, club coop

A newly conceptualised nightlife and arts venue is set to open its doors at the end of September in Marseille with a focus on marginalised communities, club coop.

The new 200-capacity space is due to open in response to a lack of cultural spaces for underrepresented communities in the south of France, particularly in Marseille.

club coop officially opens on September 30 with a test event at Rue Curiol in Marseille’s city centre featuring a number of local artists, and funding from the Creative Impact Fund in Germany.

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“Those from traditionally marginalised backgrounds or identities see this marginalisation extend to cultural spaces, with artists substantially underpaid and fans often denied the opportunity to hear the sounds they love in venues which prioritise music and dance,” explains club coop.

The venue bills itself as a cooperative cultural space for marginalised communities, partaking in both club nights and art events with influence from global grassroots movement Space of Urgency, and Sheffield-based community collective Sister Midnight.

club coop also cites taking inspiration from the economic approach of Paris’ La Louve, with an aim to close the gap between the non-profit sector and private business.

The venue is also backed by a grant from CIRCE (Creative Impact Research Centre Europe) and hopes to run a community-led system where members can determine everything down to the sound, vision, and prices of each club night.

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“Members will meet regularly, both en masse and with an advisory board drawn from across Marseille, and will also regularly be elected to programming and reflective committees dedicated to future planning,” explains club coop.

“This is an experiment first and foremost for the people of Marseille, but its outcomes should be followed closely by all who wish to rethink club cultures. With this in mind, updates will regularly be published, with an initial paper detailing the project’s progress due to be released freely in late November of this year.”

The first guerilla poster campaign from club coop garnered nearly 400 signups for the club’s first event on September 30.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag’s Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter