Rennaud Donnedieu de Vabres, Minister of Culture and Communication of France, inaugurated the Centre National du Costume de Scène et de la Scénographie on July 1st, 2006.

Located in the city of Moulins, in the Allier region, the CNCS occupies a part of the Quartier Villars (link), former headquarters of cavalry. It was built in the late eighteenth century and classified as a historical monument.

The Ministry of Culture and Communication financed the restoration and reform of the Quarter Villars, which was offered by the city of Moulins to the CNCS, as well as the construction of a new space to house the technical reserve of the Center.

Mission of the CNCS:

- Conservation of the collections of costumes and scenery paintings which have been assigned by the three institutions that compound the Center.

- Expansion of the collection through a constant dialogue with these institutions, or in response to the demands of other institutions in the show business.

- Valuation of their collections through a constant program of temporary exhibitions. For conservation reasons, fabric can not be exposed for a long time. Thus, the CNCS may be open to the public permanently or quickly renewing their exhibits.

- Study of the collections and themes, through a developed cultural and educational program by placing different cultural structures of the city and of the region in resonance, thus, completing each other.

Exhibitions:

Scene Animals - exhibition for the opening of the CNCS
Théodore de Banville and Theater
I love the military!
Christian Lacroix costumier
Jean Paul Gautier and Régine Chopinot: The Fashion Show
The Thousand and One Nights
Au Fil des Fleurs - Scènes de Jardin (Dec. 2008 - April 2009)
Rudolf Noureev, la trame d'une vie (May - November 2009)