Part of the MO.CO. Montpellier Contemporain ecosystem — the singular institution that runs from training to collection by uniting an art school and two contemporary art centres — the MO.CO. Panacée is its laboratory of contemporary creation. Where Le MO.CO. hosts large-scale international exhibitions, the Panacée is the more experimental, exploratory side of the family: a place to take risks, test ideas, and discover the art that's taking shape right now.
Housed in a beautiful historic building in the heart of the city, on rue de l'École de Pharmacie, the Panacée champions the contemporary scene through bold solo and group exhibitions, often built around new productions. Supporting living artists is at the very core of what it does — commissioning fresh work, giving ambitious form to existing pieces, shining a light on recent graduates of the MO.CO. Esba, and regularly offering artists from across the world their very first exhibition in a French institution. Shows here tend to be immersive and adventurous, with carefully designed scenography that turns each visit into an experience, and entry is free.
As with the wider MO.CO., engaging the public runs through everything. The team of mediators offers a programme that's renewed for every exhibition and open to all — specialist or curious newcomer, young or adult, alone or in a group. There are friendly guided visits, 30-minute lunchtime "flash" tours on Fridays, behind-the-scenes visits with the curatorial team, "carte blanche" tours led by outside guests, and combined itineraries created with partner institutions across the region, alongside workshops, artist encounters, lectures, visitor and children's booklets, and tailored actions to welcome every kind of audience, from associations to people with disabilities. As a privileged educational partner from nursery school to university, the Panacée invites everyone into a genuine relationship of encounter and exchange around the art of our time.
To round off a visit, the Café de la Panacée, tucked within the building, offers a relaxed blend of food and culture. Its modern design makes an inviting setting to enjoy a meal or a coffee surrounded by artistic energy, with a varied menu built on fresh, seasonal ingredients to suit every taste. There's a large indoor room for winter and a shaded patio for summer, a Sunday brunch, plus free wifi, newspapers, and games for children — a calm, elegant refuge in the midst of Montpellier's creative buzz. The café is open Wednesday to Saturday from 9am until late, and Sunday from 11am to 6pm.
Free, experimental, and full of discovery, the MO.CO. Panacée is where Montpellier comes to meet the art of tomorrow — a true laboratory of contemporary creation in the centre of the city.