Roubaix’s most famous museum, Musée de la Piscine, celebrates its 20th anniversary!

The Art and Industry museum came up from an innovative idea to set up a museum in the former Art Deco municipal swimming pool. In 1990, the municipal council validates this idea coming from the new conservation team of the museum to transform the pool, closed up since 1985, into a museum. In 1992, the project is confirmed and a convention is signed between the State and Roubaix to transfer the collections of the former Art and Industry museum to Roubaix. The museum opened in October 2001 after renovation was done. Since its opening, the museum has been a great success.  Many donations and purchases have been made by the city. To conserve and exhibit the artworks in the most optimal way, there was the need for an enlargement. With more than 2000 m2 added, the new spaces dedicated to Roubaix’s history, to sculpture and to the temporary exhibits guarantees a historical enrichment of the visitors' route and the services offered by the museum. Now, in October 2021 was the 20th anniversary of the museum!

For this particular occasion, from October 20th 2021 to February 6th 2022, the museum organizes exhibits strongly anchored in its values of a solidary museum at the service of its public. The museum wanted to put people at the heart of its program, therefore, inspired by the artworks of Jawlensky, the theme for the exhibitions to come is “The promise of the face”. From November 6th to February 6th, Alexej Jawlensky and artists such as Susanne Hay, Jean-François Fouilhoux, Caroline Robe and Didier Knoff will have their artworks exhibited. The textile, a very important piece of Roubaix’s history as an industrial city and the location for textile schools, will also be at heart of the program with ESMOD’s exhibition, for the celebration of the 180th anniversary of the textile school. On top of the temporary exhibitions, the museum will have a series of events such as the Night of Arts, on December 4th, dance and music performances. This anniversary is very important for Lille Metropole, and is therefore broadcasted also by other museums, concept stores, and artists’ workshops.

If you are interested in participating in the various events, you can take a look at the full programming here: https://www.roubaix-lapiscine.com/en/home/