• In 2020, Lille Grand Palais had to cancel 90% of the planned events due to the coronavirus epidemic.

  • The first canceled event, Art'Up, will also be the one that will mark the resumption from next week.

  • The 2021-2022 program is not fully defined, but Lille Grand Palais is already announcing many concerts and cultural events.

It's no secret that events have taken a hit with the coronavirus pandemic. And Lille Grand Palais, which brings together a convention center, exhibition halls and the Zénith, has not cut it off. However, the structure has decided not to cry over the past and to focus on the future.

Since March 2020, the turnover of Lille grand palais has been divided by seven while only 30 events were hosted out of the usual 300.

Lille Grand Palais had to reinvent itself, between hosting exams and a vaccination center.

"The epidemic has changed the consumption patterns of customers, but our strength is our ability to rebound", nevertheless affirms Jacques Richir, deputy mayor of Lille and president of the structure.

If Art'Up signs the return of cultural life as of next week, it is a set of other devices that will emerge over the coming year.

A 2020-2025 strategic plan on three axes

The recovery plan is organized around several axes, in particular the increase in the co-production of events.

Lille Grand Palais already has several events of which it is the sole organizer, such as Art'Up or the International Lille Tatoo Convention.

But the company has decided to step up the pace even further.

And after Art'Up, it will be the turn of Série Mania on August 31, then the Beer festival in Lille on September 18 and 19, in collaboration with l'Echappée Bière.

Sport will also be in the spotlight, with Sport Unlimetch, an event that encourages innovation in sport chaired by former rugby player Frédéric Michalak.

On September 23 and 24, the Sport Performance theme will reveal the “regional nuggets of sport tech”.

Instant Yoga, meanwhile, will see the light of day as a 100% Lille Grand Palais production.

A resumption of the usual animations

It is also the resumption of concerts at the Zénith, on September 12, with Kids United.

Julien Doré, Clara Luciani, Christophe Maé, Iggy Pop or Texas will follow.

"The return of international artists proves that we are on a total resumption of concert activity", rejoices Philippe Blond, the director general (CEO) of Lille Grand Palais.

At the same time, it will also be the resumption of film concerts.

For the 2021-2022 season, Lille Grand Palais has already booked nearly 200 events.

"We know that we have to reinvent ourselves, with new digital formats for example," notes Philippe Blond.

So the management is organized.

If a health passport will be requested for Art'Up, do not panic, it will be possible to obtain it on site.

In a "sanitary concierge", visitors will be able to do an antigen test and benefit from the sesame.

The measures will be adapted according to the progress of vaccination and the pandemic: "we do not know how it will be organized afterwards", recognizes the CEO.

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  • Culture

  • Coronavirus

  • Deconfinement

  • Lille