Angouleme: Francoin Space under construction but not discontinued

It is impossible to completely shut down Franquin, even for two months. The space hosts events all year round, especially from associations. As for work “If we didn’t do it now, we probably wouldn’t have been able to do it at all. The Franquin space hasn’t been renovated since its inception in 1977”Gerard Lefevre insists. This first stage of work, in the form of “home staging”, should make it possible to beautify the basement. False ceilings, painting, installing new lights, new signage, modified furniture or electrical fixtures… “Everything must be done.”

A second stage of work is coming

Necessary work, but it does not exactly help in the affairs of associations. “Joint activity is never simple, The deputy delivers. We arranged for work to be done early in the morning or late in the evening. » from one side “Business in progress” More or less required. “A few weeks ago, people were walking through cables and wires that were dangling, He sighs. Because when setting up an event, we get stuck a day or two. The rule is that everyone accepts. » As for the associations, he assures us that in May and June, everyone was notified to postpone their activities in September and October.

Franquin’s space should reopen at the beginning of January. We don’t even have to ask the question.

Behind the scenes of Space Franquin, we twist our noses a bit when we hear it. “We thought the site was launching in November, so when we got an email in June, to announce the business two weeks later…” Above all, it is up to the Espace Franquin team to reconcile the dates of the associations with the dates of the works. It is not always easy. “That’s right, they’ve all been warned. But some didn’t really pick up before they got to the location, others wanted a specific room… We don’t always have an answer to give them at the moment a T. And every time an event is added, you have to deal with companies.” Fortunately, they are very cooperative in this aspect.”

liquid coexistence or not, “Espace Franquin should reopen at the beginning of January. We don’t even have to ask ourselves the question”Gérard Lefevre thundered, his gaze turned toward FIBD. And this is only the beginning. “We have to prepare for a second phase of work to renovate the ground floor as well. We have to remodel the roof slab that leaked in 2023.” Despite the pitfalls and progress less smoothly for business than would be desired, Gerard Lefevre maintains the same ambition: “To make Espace Franquin famous again.”

Well Organized Book Fair

Pascal Dolondel, head of the Cosmopolitan Library, does not hide it. “That’s right, when I was told that Espace Franquin would be under construction at the same time as the Angoulême Salon, I had some concerns. But in the end, Hallelujah, it was very well organized.” He even ended up finding advantages in this symbiosis. “It forced us to outdo ourselves in order to enhance the Franquin space. In the end, we received 100 authors on all three levels, for the first time, as planned. Not 1% of the ideas were running through my mind that I couldn’t grasp.”