In Romainville, the Fiminco Foundation is inaugurating FAST, its cultural district, from June 18 to 27, with a free and multidisciplinary festival.
On a former industrial wasteland in Romainville, on the outskirts of Paris, an extraordinary cultural project is preparing to open its doors to the general public. The Fiminco Foundation is inaugurating FAST (Fiminco Art Studios), presented as the largest European district dedicated to contemporary creation. To celebrate this event, a completely free opening festival, called FASTIVAL, will be held from June 18 to 27, 2026, inviting all audiences to explore this new major artistic hub of Greater Paris.
A major project on a rehabilitated site
FAST covers a total area of 120,000 m², of which 50,000 m² are exclusively devoted to culture. The ambition, carried by the FIMINCO Group, is twofold: to support artists from all disciplines and to make culture accessible to as many people as possible. The project came to life on the former Roussel-Uclaf pharmaceutical site, an industrial heritage from the 20th century which has been completely rehabilitated and transformed to accommodate this new creative ecosystem.
The project was led by Gérald Azancot, president of the Fiminco Foundation, who summarizes its philosophy.
« The abundance of creations and the mix of disciplines make up the DNA of our project » underlines Gérald Azancot.
This initiative aims to create a place of life and resources for the 34,000 inhabitants of Romainville and, more broadly, for all Ile-de-France residents, as recently demonstrated by recognition from the New York Times qualifying the area as “the center of gravity of Parisian dynamism and creativity”.
FASTIVAL: a festive and multidisciplinary inauguration
The opening evening, scheduled for Thursday June 18 from 6 p.m., will set the tone for the event. The program will begin with the official inauguration in the Théâtre de Verdure, followed by an impromptu choreography by Blanca Li. At 7 p.m., Olivier Py will present his “Cabaret du Châtelet” with Miss Knife and the Cagelles from *La Cage aux Folles*. The evening will continue with DJ sets, dance battles, exhibitions, a participatory ball and fireworks at 11:10 p.m.
For ten days, the festival will offer a rich and varied program: classical and electro music concerts (including Alexandre Tharaud, Sonia Wieder-Atherton and the ensemble Les Apaches!), exhibitions dedicated to the textile artist Simone Prouvé and Korean digital art, open-air cinema with the screening of *Chantons sous la rain*, screen printing, engraving and textile workshops, as well as activities for families such as baby yoga sessions.
A unique ecosystem for contemporary creation
Beyond the festival, FAST aims to be a permanent place for creation, production and distribution. The district is already home to the international artist residency of the Fiminco Foundation, six contemporary art galleries, the Frac ÃŽle-de-France reserves, the Parsons Paris art school, as well as the dance companies of Blanca Li and Mourad Merzouki. Soon, the Conservatoire National Supérieur d’Art Dramatique (CNSAD) will install part of its activities there on nearly 4,500 m².
Artists benefit from cutting-edge resources, including technical workshops (engraving, construction, digital, ceramics, screen printing and textiles), studios and a modular performance hall with 600 seats (1,100 standing). Residency programs like “La Fabrique des Arts” offer comprehensive support, as former residents testify.
« This residency marked a real turning point in my career as a young artist » confides Chloé Royer, resident in 2022-2023.
« This year of intensive production, where I was able to experiment and develop my ideas without interruption, was a unique and incredibly enriching moment » ajoute Pooya Abbassian, résident en 2023-2024.
The entire program and practical information are available on the foundation’s official website: https://www.fondationfiminco.com
via Presse Agence.
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