Since 2009, À demeure has been involved in the production of works commissioned by public and private stakeholders: associations, local residents, elected representatives from small towns and professionals from various fields of activity in both rural and urban areas. This approach is part of the ‘New Patrons’ protocol initiated and supported by Fondation de France in the early 1990s. Valérie Cudel – mediator-producer – initially developed this programme with the association art3 / Valence (2000-2009), then with À demeure, from 2009 to 2022.
In 2023, the association moved to Besançon (in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region) and joined the New Patrons society.
https://lasocietedesnouveauxcommanditaires.org/
À demeure has endorsed commissions in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Occitanie (Midi-Pyrénées) and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. It is now the principal referral organisation for Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Two programmes have been launched: the question of water cycles in karstic zones working together with Belgium and Spain within the CREA EU initiative: Art Living lab for Sustainability https://artlivinglab.eu/ and the Lynx programme as part of a call for PNA projects led by the New Patrons society.
The association is also involved in editorial projects in partnership with Les Presses du Réel and Captures éditions – a book can be one of the mediums proposed by guest artists in which case it exists as a work in its own right. Certain publications are also encouraged as a necessary break to report on research, debates linked to work production and questions raised by the artists.
The New Patrons initiative enables citizens confronted with social issues to involve contemporary artists in their concerns by commissioning art works from them. Its originality is based on a new combination of three key players: the artist, the commissioning citizen and the mediator, accompanied by public and private partners working collectively on the project.
Since 2020, the New Patrons society association has federated a network of mediators and spearheaded the development of this initiative thanks to the support of the Ministry of Culture and Fondation de France. lasocietedesnouveauxcommandiataires.org