Emotions will undoubtedly be present on Thursday, April 30, 2026 for Frédéric Branchu, aged 65, the director of the S’il vous plaît association, which manages the Thouars center. He will experience his very last day at the helm of this local institution before enjoying a well-deserved retirement.
Before passing the torch to his successor, whose identity has not yet been revealed, this adopted Thouars resident reflects on his rich professional journey in service of culture on the local territory, which began over 35 years ago for this native of the Paris region who arrived here with his parents 50 years ago when he was still a teenager.
“I receive nearly 30,000 emails from artists every year.”
When did you start working for the Thouars center? Frédéric Branchu: “I discovered the artistic world in 1989-1990, first as a solidarity employment contract at the Thouars museum, which had just reopened. The newly elected municipality (with socialist Serge Moulin as mayor) wanted to expand the cultural service, as the center was undergoing a major renovation project, initiated in 1992. The building was abandoned, even the seats were collapsing. I said yes right away, without really knowing what I was going to do.”
What was your role at that time? Frédéric Branchu: “I was initially in charge of the administrative and financial aspects. We were a small team starting from scratch. It was exciting because everything had to be built. The officials at the time were enthusiastic and very present, starting with Patrice Pineau, who was then deputy in charge of culture. It was very rewarding for us.”
At the end of the day, it’s always a matter of political choices… Frédéric Branchu, director of the Thouars center
You were not always the director then?
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