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On 1 July 2006 the Minister for Culture Renaud Donnedieu produces two or three major events and exhibitions each year, de Vabres inaugurated the Centre Nationale du Costume is equipped with an auditorium, a documentation centre and de Scène et de la Scénographie (CNCS) in Moulins, the workshops (offering specialised courses to the professionals capital of the Allier department situated in the heart of of tomorrow, including drawing, embroidery, dance) along France. The first institution in the world to be entirely with a variety of conferences and internship programmes. dedicated to theatre heritage represents the confluence of Costumes are not isolated elements in a performance. On the two worlds: that of performing arts, the contrary, their aspect plays a fundamenreign of ephemerality and appearance, and tal role in the vision the director wishes The costumes that become that of conservation, in which study and to convey on stage. Every theatrical propart of the collection dedication are necessary to preserve and duction is the result of a collective effort, transmit a documented cultural legacy. It are considered works of art: in which the director leads the team and took the French authorities and the town chooses the costume designer and the set they are never worn of Moulins twelve years of intense work decorator, although the same person often again and are treated as to establish this partnership. Firstly, to deplays both roles. The making of a costume fine the cultural and scientific purpose of is a true act of love: the costume designer museum treasures the Centre. Secondly, to restore the comcreates what expert craftsmen produce in plex that now houses the Centre and the specialised ateliers. collections (four of the ten 18th-century The centre currently houses over 10,000 buildings in the Quartier Villar, originally costumes and accessories. Given the enormilitary barracks). mous quantity of theatre productions, a The mission of the Centre Nationale du selection is made according to specific Costume de Scène is to preserve the stage criteria, such as the importance of the costumes coming from the Opéra nationproduction, the fame of the actors who al de Paris, the Bibliothèque national de wore them or of the costume designer who France and the Comédie-Française, the created them, as well as the technical charCentre’s founding institutions. It also acteristics involved in their making. The receives donations from theatres, theatre oldest models date back to the second half companies, choreographers and costume of the 19th century and represent every designers as well as legacies from artists, genre, style and period. In many cases the amateurs and collectors in particular. Furgarments are accompanied by their stage thermore, it serves as a museum, a geoaccessories, such as shoes, hats, gloves, jewgraphic and scientific reference point at ellery, stockings and bags. the service of the general public and stage When they arrive in the area called “les professionals alike. The Centre, which réserves”, the costumes are quarantined in Above, the main entrance of the CNCS. Inaugurated in 2006, it is open to the public and professionals. The Centre houses over 10,000 stage clothes and accessories. Top left, modelling a costume. The oldest date back to the second half of the 19th century.
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