La Condition Publique

La Condition Publique is a former textile warehouse in Roubaix that has been transformed into a vibrant cultural centre that hosts a programme of exhibitions and other events.

Dating from 1902, La Condition Publique was originally built as a textile packaging warehouse for Roubaix’s textile industry. The building’s architecture reflects its industrial past, with expansive spaces designed for the storage and treatment of textiles. As the textile industry declined, the building fell into disuse, mirroring the economic challenges faced by the region.

In the early 2000s, a project was launched to revive La Condition Publique, transforming it into a cultural and creative space. The renovation aimed to preserve the building’s industrial character while adapting it for contemporary use.

What to see at la Condition Publique

Visitors to La Condition Publique can expect a diverse array of cultural activities and artistic experiences, reflecting the venue’s commitment to creativity, community and collaboration.

The venue hosts a vibrant programme of artistic events that include music, theatre and dance as well as exhibitions that span various art forms, including visual arts, photography, sculpture and multimedia installations. The event programme also includes guided tours of La Condition Publique (in French) which give you a deeper understanding of the centre.

La Condition Publique is much more than an arts centre and it is a fun place to just hang out, incorporating a skate park, cafe and a rooftop space with gardens and panoramic views of Roubaix.

Temporary exhibitions at la Condition Publique

From 22 April to 12 July 2025, LaM and La Condition Publique will present two exhibitions as part of Fiesta! by lille3000. Oiseaux de Nuit and Les étoiles refroidissent aussi will showcase works from emerging artists alongside pieces from LaM’s collection of modern, outsider and contemporary art. These exhibitions mark the 20th anniversary of La Condition Publique and are part of LaM’s Vagabonde programme, which brings its collection beyond the museum’s walls.

Oiseaux de Nuit
Oiseaux de Nuit explores nightlife as a space where identities shift, social roles are reversed and countercultures emerge. Inspired by carnivals, festivals and club scenes, the exhibition examines how the night alters perception, leaving only fragmented memories. It features work by ten artists from Lille, Brussels, Marseille and the Paris region, working across various media, including drawing, painting, sculpture, installation and sound. Many of the artists will create new pieces or adapt existing works in response to the exhibition’s themes. Aïda Bruyère will present the results of her residency at La Condition Publique (2024–2025). The exhibition highlights LaM’s diverse collection and its engagement with contemporary art, exploring celebration as a social phenomenon that blurs boundaries and challenges norms.

Les étoiles refroidissent aussi
Presented in the industrial setting of Halle B, Les étoiles refroidissent aussi is an immersive exhibition exploring the fleeting nature of celebration. Combining works from LaM’s collection of modern, contemporary and outsider art with exceptional loans, it examines the contrast between festivity and its aftermath. The exhibition reflects on the limits of the body and how celebrations reshape public space. It engages with La Condition Publique’s role as a site of artistic and social experimentation, where themes of play, inclusion and collective experience are explored. The exhibition brings together 13 artists from LaM’s collection, spanning different generations, with additional contributions, including a special commission by Benoît Piéron.

Visiting la Condition Publique

La Condition Publique is in a working-class neighbourhood in Roubaix, around 11.5km northeast of Lille’s city centre. While there is not a lot to see and do in the immediate vicinity around the venue, it isn’t far from the centre of Roubaix and there are other points of interest within walking distance.

From here you can walk to the McArthurGlen outlet shopping centre in just 10 minutes and it is a 20-minute walk to the centre of Roubaix. Roubaix’s main attractions are also within walking distance. La Manufacture is a 20-minute walk from here and it is around a 25-minute walk to La Piscine.

The Eurotéléport metro station and tram stop is only a 12-minute walk from la Condition Publique so it is relatively easy to get here by public transport. Allow around 35 minutes for the metro ride to Lille Flandres (including time to walk to the station) or an extra 12 minutes if you take the tram instead.

La Condition Publique is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays afternoons and Friday nights. While there are some free exhibitions, other exhibitions cost €5. However, it is free to visit paid exhibitions if you have la C’ART or the Lille City Pass.

Visitor facilities include an on-site café and bookshop.

Allow 2–3 hours for your visit.

14, place Faidherbe, 59100 Roubaix
Metro Metro Eurotéléport (line 2) Tram R (stop: Eurotéléport) Bus 33, 34, 35, 78, L4 (stop: Condition Publique)
Website laconditionpublique.com
Admission free–€5, paid exhibitions free with the Lille City Pass
Open Wed & Sat 1.30pm–7pm, Fri 7pm–midnight