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Hip-hop finds a home in Paris Hip-hop finds a home in Paris
(3 months later)
The project to redevelop Les Halles in the centre of Paris is halfway through. While the transport links, green spaces and a revamped retail area may be the planners' focus, in cultural terms the centrepiece of this vast urban reshaping is a hip-hop centre.The project to redevelop Les Halles in the centre of Paris is halfway through. While the transport links, green spaces and a revamped retail area may be the planners' focus, in cultural terms the centrepiece of this vast urban reshaping is a hip-hop centre.
Paris sees itself as a leading centre for hip-hop, rap, dj-ing and graffiti art, and Les Halles has been associated with these forms since the 1980s.Paris sees itself as a leading centre for hip-hop, rap, dj-ing and graffiti art, and Les Halles has been associated with these forms since the 1980s.
Below street-level lies the busiest transport intersection in Paris, Châtelet – Les Halles. Bringing commuters in from the suburbs, it also attracted banlieusards, youths from the tough housing estates that ring the capital. It was rap and hip-hop that spoke to them and Les Halles became a focus. In a gesture of inclusivity, the city council ran an online poll to chose the centre's name.Below street-level lies the busiest transport intersection in Paris, Châtelet – Les Halles. Bringing commuters in from the suburbs, it also attracted banlieusards, youths from the tough housing estates that ring the capital. It was rap and hip-hop that spoke to them and Les Halles became a focus. In a gesture of inclusivity, the city council ran an online poll to chose the centre's name.
New York already has the Harlem Hip-hop Centre, but there is nothing comparable in Europe. The Paris site will include a forum, rehearsal rooms, a 100 sq metre recording studio and an auditorium seating 400. There will be workshops on computer-assisted composition and budding hip-hop entrepreneurs will get help launching new ventures. The centre will operate in tandem with the Canopée library next-door, drawing on about 3,000 specialist documents. It will collaborate with the Paris Conservatoire too, and existing amenities such as the Maison du Hip-Hop in the capital's 11th arrondissement and a graphics venue in the 20th arrondissement.New York already has the Harlem Hip-hop Centre, but there is nothing comparable in Europe. The Paris site will include a forum, rehearsal rooms, a 100 sq metre recording studio and an auditorium seating 400. There will be workshops on computer-assisted composition and budding hip-hop entrepreneurs will get help launching new ventures. The centre will operate in tandem with the Canopée library next-door, drawing on about 3,000 specialist documents. It will collaborate with the Paris Conservatoire too, and existing amenities such as the Maison du Hip-Hop in the capital's 11th arrondissement and a graphics venue in the 20th arrondissement.
Critics may complain that 1,400 sq metres is three times smaller than the Gaité Lyrique theatre, now home to a digital arts centre. But for French hip-hop, often reduced to just a single discipline, rap, or dismissed as a fad, it is a big step towards official recognition. "The purpose of the centre is more to act as a sort of bridgehead for networking, and as a big toolbox, than as a self-sufficient venue. Its opening is not an end in itself, rather the start of our investment in hip-hop," says Bruno Julliard, the deputy-mayor tasked with cultural affairs.Critics may complain that 1,400 sq metres is three times smaller than the Gaité Lyrique theatre, now home to a digital arts centre. But for French hip-hop, often reduced to just a single discipline, rap, or dismissed as a fad, it is a big step towards official recognition. "The purpose of the centre is more to act as a sort of bridgehead for networking, and as a big toolbox, than as a self-sufficient venue. Its opening is not an end in itself, rather the start of our investment in hip-hop," says Bruno Julliard, the deputy-mayor tasked with cultural affairs.
Most earlier attempts to capitalise on this art form and its importance for younger audiences have been mainly private initiatives, such as the Tag show at the Grand Palais in 2009 or Né du Graffiti at the Fondation Cartier. "The success of these events was certainly a driving force," Julliard admits. "It impressed on arts policy advisers the scale and quality of this culture." It also prompted the council to start funding Juste Debout, a dance festival at Bercy, and the Paris Hip-Hop festival.Most earlier attempts to capitalise on this art form and its importance for younger audiences have been mainly private initiatives, such as the Tag show at the Grand Palais in 2009 or Né du Graffiti at the Fondation Cartier. "The success of these events was certainly a driving force," Julliard admits. "It impressed on arts policy advisers the scale and quality of this culture." It also prompted the council to start funding Juste Debout, a dance festival at Bercy, and the Paris Hip-Hop festival.
What was lacking was a central focus. In 2008 Julliard, then in charge of youth affairs, was working on an information and reception centre as part of the Les Halles redevelopment. "Quite frankly it seemed a bit outdated," he says. "We were surprised by the lack of support for hip-hop culture too. At best policy-makers were simply ignorant, but in some cases they were actively wary of hip-hop because it belonged to the younger generation. So we suggested this arts centre, an idea promptly endorsed by Anne Hidalgo, then in charge of planning for the overall project [and now the Socialist mayoral candidate]."What was lacking was a central focus. In 2008 Julliard, then in charge of youth affairs, was working on an information and reception centre as part of the Les Halles redevelopment. "Quite frankly it seemed a bit outdated," he says. "We were surprised by the lack of support for hip-hop culture too. At best policy-makers were simply ignorant, but in some cases they were actively wary of hip-hop because it belonged to the younger generation. So we suggested this arts centre, an idea promptly endorsed by Anne Hidalgo, then in charge of planning for the overall project [and now the Socialist mayoral candidate]."
A hip-hop centre makes sense at Les Halles, the main gathering point for young people from the city's suburbs, thanks to its RER station. In the 1980-90s break dancers used to practise outside the swimming pool or cinema, the first hip-hop streetwear brands opened shops in nearby streets, and local record shops attracted everyone who mattered in the business.A hip-hop centre makes sense at Les Halles, the main gathering point for young people from the city's suburbs, thanks to its RER station. In the 1980-90s break dancers used to practise outside the swimming pool or cinema, the first hip-hop streetwear brands opened shops in nearby streets, and local record shops attracted everyone who mattered in the business.
But many people in hip-hop also came to distrust the authorities. "Some were afraid they would be used," Julliard acknowledges. "But emerging artists and established figures realise that hip-hip culture needs public recognition and support to encourage creative work and maintain a high level of quality without yielding to market forces. We want a team of able people, with a background in the art form, to manage the centre [...] and make it a credible venue for professionals." The team has yet to be found, the credibility yet to be established.But many people in hip-hop also came to distrust the authorities. "Some were afraid they would be used," Julliard acknowledges. "But emerging artists and established figures realise that hip-hip culture needs public recognition and support to encourage creative work and maintain a high level of quality without yielding to market forces. We want a team of able people, with a background in the art form, to manage the centre [...] and make it a credible venue for professionals." The team has yet to be found, the credibility yet to be established.
Although hip-hop has its own code of conduct, it has always adapted to its environment. ,which incorporates material from Le Monde Although hip-hop has its own code of conduct, it has always adapted to its environment. ,which incorporates material from Le Monde
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