Institut d'art contemporain, IAC

Villeurbanne is a suburb of Lyon, so it is easy to get to its Institute of Contemporary Art, just a few streets from Lyon Part-Dieu railway station. The IAC was created at the end of the 1990s when the town decided to merge the Nouveau Musée de Lyon art centre with the regional collection of contemporary art (FRAC).

This was the beginning of the Institute and its 1,200m² space for artistic experimentation and creation. As well as permanent modern art collections, it also has international exhibitions with no less than 1,600 works by artists from France and abroad.

From painting to sculpture, from video to photography, all arts are present within the colourful outside walls, which are regularly redecorated. Although the Institute runs sessions for families once a month, it is above all a place for couples rather than families in view of the artistic and cultural demands involved.





Visitors can contemplate works by artists who are already well-known like Friedman, Boetti and Weiner, and admire the work of the artists of tomorrow. The Institute of Contemporary Art is a wonderful gateway between the two. As you enter the glass doors, you are immediately able to admire the work of the current artist showcased by the Institute. 

The artist changes every year. Apart from this annual exhibition, there is a large permanent collection, fundamentally conceptual and oriented towards creation and renewal. As well as encouraging creation, the Institute continually acquires new works. For those not very familiar with contemporary art, free guided visits take place every weekend with qualified staff. In addition, one Friday a month, the Institute runs “lunch on the hoof” swift guided tours with snacks from a Food Truck. The Institute also has a space where you can gather information and consult the catalogue of the specialist bookshop for contemporary art.