L'H du siège Contemporary art center

A must-see on the Valenciennes contemporary art scene! A jewel box of history and culture… L’H du Siège, a contemporary art center of national interest, holds four exhibitions and three residencies a year. Just a few minutes’ walk from the city center or the “Porte de Paris” tramway station, the first floor comprises a 350 m2 exhibition gallery, with 4 artists’ studios upstairs.

Published on 11 October 2024

Yan Kempen

L'H du siège is a bit like the dream of a bunch of friends from the École des Beaux-Arts... In the beginning, I had my artist's studio there! I stayed there for a few years ... two years at least. At the time, it was primarily an exhibition space for artists, and we weren't yet talking about the concept of artist residencies."

It's H-hour! The time when lovers of contemporary art come together...

When the H hour has struck, it’s time to head for the H of headquarters…

L’H du what? L’H du siège is a contemporary art center housed in a building steeped in history, formerly a carpenter’s workshop on the rue de l’Hôpital du siège in Valenciennes, hence the name!

Today, the building has been transformed to welcome contemporary art in all its diversity. It houses an exhibition gallery, artists’ studios and, above all, a studio apartment for artists in residence.

No need to draw you a picture, you’ve understood that this is one of the places not to be missed during your arty stroll through Valenciennes.

The spirit of the place

L’H du Siège was founded in 1996 by the artists’ association Acte de Naissance, in a completely atypical location.

Since its origins, L’H du Siège has perpetuated its artistic and militant action, committed to structuring the professional status of artists. A brochure is published for each exhibition, accompanied by a critical text. Its objectives? “To enable visual artists to present their work to the public; to raise awareness of contemporary art among an unaccustomed audience; to support, accompany and stimulate creation in the visual arts; and to encourage the circulation of works.

Unique opportunities to discover contemporary art

The EXHIBITION RÉSIDENCE consists of the presentation and staging of original works produced during a creative residency.

The “côtéCour” EXHIBITION is a new exhibition program initiated by L’H du Siège. Its aim is to highlight emerging and singular artistic approaches, and concerns artists living and working in the Hauts-de-France region. The program is in line with the art center’s mission to support the creation and dissemination of art.

Why is that good?

Reason #1

Occasional events such as vernissages, meetings between artists and art critics, and TouT à CouP are organized in conjunction with exhibitions. They provide an opportunity to meet the artists freely. They add a dynamic touch to the art center’s cultural activities.

Reason #2

L’H du Siège offers a personal welcome that encourages discussion and enables visitors to grasp the plastic and conceptual challenges of the artistic approaches presented.
Complementary information is provided to help visitors appreciate the works and their approach (exhibition brochure, catalogs, artists’ books, etc.).

Reason #3

Admission to the exhibitions is free!

Les “TouT à CouP

L’H du Siège develops artistic and cultural events to boost the organization’s cultural activities.

These include the ” TouT à CouP “, a series of artistic encounters and punctuations during each exhibition, with flexible, inventive proposals that cross media such as video, film, writing, reading, sound, dance, performance and exchange.

The challenge of these invitations lies in the possibility of a sensitive articulation between the exhibition presented and the performative action that takes place at its heart. These moments also provide an opportunity to bring together different types of audience, and give new impetus to the exhibition when it closes.