Maison du Jean Vilar, Avignon

The Maison Jean Vilar in Avignon is a cultural archive and center dedicated to celebrating the legacy of Jean Vilar, a pivotal figure in French theater, known for founding the Avignon Festival, and directing the National Popular Theater. Inaugurated on July 18, 1979, the Maison Jean Vilar offers a dynamic blend of performances, readings, meetings, and exhibitions that not only preserve Vilar's work but also document the history of the Avignon Festival.

The center began in December 1971 when Paul Puaux, director of the Avignon Festival, founded the Association for a Jean Vilar Foundation after Jean Vilar's death earlier that year. The goal was to preserve Vilar's documents, especially those related to his work at the Avignon Festival and the National Popular Theater. A key moment was Andrée Vilar's donation of her late husband's archives, which led to the creation of a library-museum and a General Theater Documentation Center in Avignon, guided by André Veinstein and Jacques Bosson.

Maison Jean Vilar, located in the Crochans Hotel in Avignon (acquired by the city in 1974), was established in 1977 through a partnership between the Jean Vilar Association, the City of Avignon, the National Library of France, and the Ministry of Culture and Communication. This agreement governed its operations until 2017.

Today, the Maison Jean Vilar continues to thrive under the joint management of the Jean Vilar Association and the National Library of France. It stands as a living testament to Jean Vilar's enduring influence on theater and culture, offering a space for reflection, education, and celebration of the performing arts.