Les Frigos

Les Frigos is an artistic site for production and creation, located at 19, rue des Frigos in the station district of the 13th arrondissement, Paris, France. It is part of the new Paris Rive Gauche development, between the National Library of France and Paris Diderot University.

History
Originally a refrigerated railway depot built in 1921, it became an industrial wasteland starting in 1971, following the displacement of the "Halles de Paris" to the new International Market at Rungis. During the 1980s the building was occupied by new arrivals, artists and artisans, attracted by the great spaces and the quality of its thermal and sound insulation. The first occupants were squatters, a mixture of artists and non-artists (including, notably, Ben and ). Rapidly, however, the successive occupants took to contracting for their occupation, and to paying rent. After the National Society of French Railways (SNCF), and following that the Réseau Ferré de France, the Mairie de Paris became the legal owner of the building (starting from 31 December 2003). The storeys of the building have been converted into artists' studios, music studios, etc. Since then, despite the hazards, ownership changes and redevelopment of the neighbourhood, the place has remained a benchmark among new "territories" of contemporary art.

Occupants
Over a hundred tenants work on the site, which includes ninety workshops. In 2010, rents for the premises equipped by the tenants ranged from around €500 to €2,700. Fifteen different professions carry out activities at Les Frigos, ranging from small firms to publishing houses, arts and crafts, etc. There are artists, micro-companies and associations for managing rehearsal facilities for theatrical people or for musicians. This is the first location in France to have developed, by chance, a professional site for "vertical mixing", bringing together these various professions. The wish of a great part of the tenants is to have the site legally positioned on the Paris Rive Gauche development programme for the 13th arrondissement.

References

Sources
 This article was originally taken from the French Wikipedia article Les Frigos.

External links

 Les Frigos website

Category:Year of establishment missing
Category:French artist groups and collectives
Category:Buildings and structures in the 13th arrondissement of Paris
Category:Organizations based in Paris
Category:Arts in Paris
Category:Squats in France