Center Pompidou, Paris

The Centre national d'art et de culture Georges Pompidou was the brainchild of President Georges Pompidou who wanted to create an original cultural institution in the heart of Paris completely focused on modern and contemporary creation. Pompidou created a centre where the visual arts would rub shoulders with theatre, music, cinema, literature and the spoken word.

The centre is housed in the centre of Paris in a building designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, whose architecture symbolises the spirit of the 20th century. The Centre Pompidou first opened its doors to the public in 1977.

It is situated in a unique location and houses one of the most important museums in the world, featuring the leading collection of modern and contemporary art in Europe, a vast public reference library with facilities for over 2,000 readers, general documentation on 20th century art, a cinema and performance halls, a music research institute, educational activity areas, bookshops, a restaurant and a café.

The centre aims to spread knowledge about all creative works from the 20th century and those heralding the new millennium. Each year the Centre Pompidou holds thirty or so public exhibitions plus international events - cinema and documentary screenings, conferences and symposiums, concerts, dance and educational activities - many of which go on to other venues in both France and abroad.

Website: http://www.centrepompidou.fr