Éden

Éden (also known as Cinéma l'Eden) is a landmark Art Deco cinema and cultural venue in Saint-Jean-d'Angély, in the Charente-Maritime department of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. The original building was designed by the local architect André Guillon (1896–1992) and inaugurated on 20 September 1931. Its facade, decorated with bas-reliefs representing the Arts and Sciences united in cinematography, won a silver medal at the 1935 Brussels World's Fair. The building was inscribed on the supplementary list of Monuments historiques in 1984 and was considered one of the finest cinemas in the region, modelled on Parisian venues of the same era. The cinema closed in 2004 due to its dilapidated state, with major cracks in its side facades and gables. A smaller replacement venue, L'Éden Pasteur, took over. On Saturday 3 May 2014, a fire broke out in the building, causing the collapse of its main facade and some side facades; some bas-reliefs were saved at the last moment. The ruins were subsequently razed and the debris cleared. The municipality decided to rebuild the emblematic building with support from the Region, Europe and the State. The identically reconstructed building was inaugurated on 7 September 2018 at a cost of €3,700,721, equipped with modern safety-compliant facilities. Since then, fashion shows, galas, film screenings and various performances have been presented in the hall. Television presenter Bruno Guillon is the patron of the venue. Today the Éden operates as a municipal cultural venue programmed in partnership with the A4 association (Association Angérienne d'Action Artistique). A4 was founded in 1990 by a handful of activist volunteers in response to the absence of a live performance season in Saint-Jean-d'Angély. It professionalised in 2004 by taking over the summer festival "Théâtre en l'Abbaye", began regular school-time programming in 2006, expanded outside the town from 2008, launched a circus tour under a big top across canton capitals in 2011, extended to three additional cantons in 2014, joined Territoires de Cirque in 2016, and in 2018 developed the cultural season at the Éden and opened the A4 café. Each year, across seven cantons, around thirty live performance companies are hosted — spanning theatre, song, mime, clown, dance and circus — for an average of 10,000 spectators, with over 3,000 young people participating in cultural activities.

The Éden cinema was built in Saint-Jean-d'Angély in an Art Deco edifice designed by the local architect André Guillon (1896–1992) and inaugurated on 20 September 1931. Its facade was adorned with bas-reliefs representing the Arts and Sciences united in cinematography, and it won a silver medal at the 1935 Brussels World's Fair. The facade and the bar room lit by a stylised glass roof dated from the original construction. The building, modelled on Parisian venues of the same period, was one of the most beautiful cinemas in the region. It was inscribed on the supplementary list of Monuments historiques in 1984. The cinema had been closed since 2004 because of its dilapidated state; its side facades and gables showed significant cracks. From then on, a new small hall, L'Éden Pasteur, replaced the disused old cinema. A fire broke out in the building on Saturday 3 May 2014, causing the collapse of its main facade and some side facades. Some bas-reliefs were saved at the last moment. After the fire, the ruins were razed and the debris evacuated. The town hall decided to rebuild this emblematic building with the help of the Region, Europe and the State. The identically reconstructed building was inaugurated on 7 September 2018. The reconstruction cost €3,700,721 with all modern equipment meeting current safety standards. Since then, fashion shows, galas, film screenings and various performances have been presented in this hall. The presenter Bruno Guillon is its patron. The building is inscribed as a monument historique by decree of 5 December 1984. In parallel, the A4 association (Association Angérienne d'Action Artistique) was created in 1990 by a handful of activist volunteers following the observation that there was no cultural season of live performances in Saint-Jean-d'Angély. In 2004 it professionalised when it took over the management of the summer festival "Théâtre en l'Abbaye". In 2006 it decided to programme performances during school time on a regular basis. In 2008 it began programming outside the town of Saint-Jean-d'Angély on the basis of exchanges with middle-school headteachers and local elected officials. In 2011, with the support of the Conseil Général de la Charente-Maritime, it devised a new project and offered a cultural season under a big top across three canton capitals; 2021 was the 10th edition of the Tournée Cirque en Vals de Saintonge. In 2014 it extended its presence to three additional cantons, thanks to a different street circus company each year, giving visibility to professional circus arts across the whole community of communes of Vals de Saintonge. These travelling projects affirmed its openness to circus arts. In 2016 it joined Territoires de Cirque and developed a circus arts hub. In 2018 it developed the cultural season at the Éden and opened the A4 café. Today, each year, across seven cantons, thirty live performance companies are hosted, ranging from theatre (classical, musical, street, comedy) to song in all styles and body arts (mime, clown, dance, circus), for an average of 10,000 spectators. Diverse cultural activities are offered throughout the year for all ages, with more than 3,000 young people taking part.

• 2021

  10th edition of the Tournée Cirque en Vals de Saintonge.

• 2018

  The identically rebuilt Éden is inaugurated on 7 September; A4 develops the cultural season at the Éden and opens the A4 café.

• 2016

  A4 joins Territoires de Cirque and develops a circus arts hub.

• 2014

  Fire destroys the Éden cinema on 3 May; A4 extends its circus tour to three additional cantons.

• 2011

  A4 launches a cultural season under a big top across three canton capitals, with support from the Conseil Général de la Charente-Maritime.

• 2008

  A4 expands programming outside Saint-Jean-d'Angély.

• 2006

  A4 begins regular programming of performances during school time.

• 2004

  The cinema closes due to its dilapidated state; A4 professionalises by taking over the 'Théâtre en l'Abbaye' summer festival.

• 1990

  Creation of the A4 association (Association Angérienne d'Action Artistique) by activist volunteers.

• 1984

  The building is inscribed on the supplementary list of Monuments historiques.

• 1935

  The cinema's facade wins a silver medal at the Brussels World's Fair.

• 1931

  Inauguration of the Art Deco Éden cinema in Saint-Jean-d'Angély, designed by architect André Guillon.

A restored heritage Art Deco cinema repurposed as a municipal live-performance and cultural venue for the Vals de Saintonge territory.

• Film screenings

• Live theatre performances

• Circus arts

• Dance

• Music and song

• Cultural activities for schools

1. 1A4 Spectacle Vivant – Culture en Vals de Saintongespectaclevivanta4.fr
2. 2Mieux nous connaître – A4 Spectacle Vivantspectaclevivanta4.fr
3. 3Éden – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Cinéma l'Eden (Saint-Jean-d'Angély) – Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org