Please find more information in the French part of the website:
- Images biennial
- Conferences videos
- Virtual visit of Hotel D’s rooms
good visit !
French part here
85 000 visitors in two weeks !
The International Design Biennial, which took place from 15 through 30 November 2008, achieved its main goal: to attract all types of public to the world of design, and its many applications.
In all, there were 85,000 visitors (an increase of 6% over 2006 and 35% over 2004). Among them, 15,000 school pupils (an increase of 47% over 2006) were able to explore the “biennial’s” exhibits, on the site of the former Saint Étienne weapons factory
270 journalists (of whom 100 were from France, and 80 were international) came to report on the exhibits. Around 30 photographers were accredited.
More than ever, on the anniversary of its creation, the “biennial” wished to reach out to all its types of public. The teaching approach, as well as specific installations, were reinforced, especially for professionals, school students and faculty.
The professional days on 17, 18 and 19 November, (conferences, encounters and workshops) made it possible for many of the players to come together, both from the local and international scenes. Designers, artists, company directors, journalists, researchers, lecturers and teachers in art and design were able to share visions, and exchange information focused around their projects.
More than 50 companies gave their support in organising the “biennial”, by means
of various types of partnerships (exchanging merchandise, donating or loaning
equipment, financial sponsorship etc). The companies also took part in private visits (more than 30 in all), often welcoming regional and national delegations (EDF, Orange, Saint étienne Montbrison Chamber of Commerce etc). Other companies elected to use the “biennial” as a publicity platform to reach out to their clients and prospective clients (Nikon, AGF and others).
Schoolchildren were hosted throughout the week from 24 to 28 November.
The children were welcomed by means of around 200 guided visits. Around 50% were from secondary schools, 25% from primary schools, 13% from elementary schools, and 12% from higher learning institutions.
The workshops for children, organised in partnership with the Espace Boric Vian, were also highly successful (36 workshops for 700 children).
A survey carried out among visitors throughout the duration of the “biennial” reveals the extent to which the event is rooted in the region: 48% were from Saint étienne, 32% from the Rhone-Alps Region, 17% from other parts of France and 3% from abroad.
There was also an increase in demand from the wider public for guided visits: 80 visits were organised through bookings made prior to the “biennial”. In addition, 380 groups each comprising 25 persons enjoyed a special rate of 70 €. And finally, the 166%
increase in ticket sales – “biennial” flat rate Pass + 3 Museums + the Le Corbusier site
(8 €) - was a clear indication of growing interest in the event. Visits to the Museum of Art and Industry, to the Saint étienne Mine Museum and the Saint étienne Métropole Museum of Modern Art also increased significantly during the “biennial” period.
Netizens, yet another type of public, constituted further proof of the growing attraction exercised by the Saint étienne International Design Biennial. The site developed by the Cité du Design teams – www.biennalesaint-etienne.citedudesign.com – received 40,000 visits in November, over 12% of them from abroad. Over the same period, the www.design-links.saint-etienne.fr blog site was visited 18,000 times, with virtually 100,000 pages being consulted.
As for the exhibits, there were more than 800 exhibitors, from 54 countries in Saint étienne.