Aubenas (Ardèche). During the municipal elections in Aubenas, the town castle was a subject of the campaign. In particular between Benoît Perrusset (PS), candidate for the union of the left, and Jean-Romain Ribeyre, Divers-right candidate, supported by the outgoing mayor Jean-Yves Meyer (DVD) who did not stand for re-election. Their positions were particularly clear on the vocation of the emblematic building of the City, converted since June 2024 into an art and heritage center after having been the subject of a large-scale rehabilitation for seven years. The victory, on March 22, of Jean-Romain Ribeyre with 58.30% of the votes cast, should mark new reorientations of the castle.
At Dauphiné LibéréJean-Romain Ribeyre, who did not respond to our request for an interview, declared on February 20: “ I hope it evolves to better reflect the identity and history of the Albenassians. I consider that culture has its place within the castle. But it must also be more open to our territory (…). If the current economic model does not make it possible to achieve a sustainable financial balance and the deficit becomes too heavy, we will have to consider a change. The transformation into a municipal art museum could be an avenue for the diffusion of local artists. »
For the former mayor, we must give time
Benoît Perrusset, questioned by the Arts Journal between the two towers, was opposed to this planned development of the castle. “It would be a waste of public money if we decided to stop everything. Subsidies for its restoration were granted because it was being made into an art and heritage center. It would be a mistake to stop this cultural dynamic which is a real plus for the City. We must give it time to mature and be identified. Certainly, it lacks the heritage aspect. Spaces dedicated to the history of the castle and Aubenas must be created, local funds promoted and the place opened up more to local cultural actors and artists, and its access becomes free for Albenassians and for all during the first weekend of the launch of the new exhibitions.had specified the municipal councilor in opposition under the mandate of Jean-Yves Meyer, while supporting the mayor’s project to provide Aubenas, a town of 13,000 inhabitants, with a reference art and heritage center.
A consensus around the restoration of the castle
However, Jean-Yves Meyer’s project had achieved consensus during its vote. The City had worked upstream with Drac Rhône-Alpes to help it finance the 13 million euros necessary for the restoration of the castle. The audit commissioned to establish its future use came to the conclusion that a contemporary art center was justified due to the absence of a structure of this type in Ardèche. The State, the Rhône-Alpes Region, the Department of Ardèche and the Community of Communes had financed the work up to 60%, and the City, owner of the Château, took out a loan for the remaining 40%.
Victor Secretan, former commissioner at MO.C0. in Montpellier, signed a three-year contract in January 2023 to work on the creation of the art and heritage center, the creation of a team and programming. The operating budget (1.1 million euros), 90% financed by the City, was to be reduced in the short term to 50% thanks to increased public subsidies, revenues generated by ticketing on a basis of 50,000 visitors per year, space rental and sponsorship. From the opening, the program put the center on the path to becoming a national art center and the level of its attendance was higher than estimated (more than 60,000 visitors).
Victor Secretan having shortened his mandate last October, it was a headless team which put together the program. This also worked on the development of the 2026 program program and was also working on the development and enrichment of the heritage route limited until now to a visit booklet and some room texts in the castle.
On April 10, two exhibitions are inaugurated: the first is dedicated to Nicolas Daubanes, and the second, entitled “Des Patates”, brings together works by artists of different generations and nationalities on the subject. To follow in the fall is the exhibition dedicated to Marion Fayolle, comic book author, native of Ardèche, and the collective exhibition “Would you dream of electric sheep? » What happens next remains unknown.
