Until then entrusted to scientific or cultural profiles, the presidency of La Villette changes in stature with the appointment of Claire Landais (52 years old). The one who had never before led a cultural organization brings unprecedented administrative and legal expertise to the head of the establishment. A graduate of ESSEC and Sciences Po and a former student of ENA, Claire Landais joined the Council of State upon leaving school in 2000. She held various positions there before occupying legal management positions within several ministries, notably those of National Education and Defense. From 2018, she assumed leading interministerial responsibilities as Secretary General of Defense and National Security. She then became Secretary General of the Government from 2020 to 2026, a position which she left to take charge of La Villette.
Created in 1979, the Public Establishment of the Park and the Grande Halle de La Villette manages a vast cultural complex of 55 hectares in the north-east of Paris. This park, the largest in the capital, is home to many emblematic places, from the Grande Halle to the Espace Chapiteaux dedicated to the circus, including the Folies Rouges. The site includes or adjoins major institutions such as the Cité des sciences et de l’industrie, the Zénith de Paris, the Conservatoire de musique et danse and the Philharmonie de Paris.
Claire Landais succeeds Franco-Spanish choreographer Blanca Li, appointed president of La Villette in 2024. Her mandate is cut short after only one year of direction. The choreographer announced her resignation in July 2025. She cites the difficulty of reconciling this function with her artistic life and the desire to devote herself fully to her creative projects.
Before Blanca Li, the presidency of La Villette was occupied by Didier Fusillier (2015-2020). A recognized figure in the cultural landscape, this close friend of Martine Aubry directed the Maison des Arts de Créteil and initiated the Lille 3000 program, before leading La Villette. His mandate there was renewed in 2020. However, he left his position early to take over the management of the Grand Palais in Paris in 2023.
