At the heart of Monaco’s cultural landscape, the Villa Sauber is once again reimagining what a museum can be. With AGORA, La Place du Musée – LAB#3, the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco (NMNM) invites visitors to step inside a dynamic, ever-evolving space where art is not just displayed but explored, questioned, and created. Running until May 4, 2025, this new exhibition turns the museum into an open laboratory, examining its core missions: collecting, studying, producing, preserving, and sharing art.
This third installment in the LAB series follows in the footsteps of previous thought-provoking exhibitions—one in 2015 that unveiled the behind-the-scenes of a museum and another in 2018 that challenged the very definition of what a museum should be. Now, NMNM shifts its focus to the artists themselves and the role of public engagement in shaping the museum’s identity.
Stepping into the exhibition, visitors will encounter a conversation between past and present. Works acquired through the Apprentis Collectionneurs program since 2017 are displayed alongside pieces from Monaco’s heritage collections, creating a dialogue across time and artistic vision. Meanwhile, new creations by resident artists Léna Durr and Éléonore False bring fresh perspectives, reflecting the museum’s commitment to fostering contemporary artistic practice.
But AGORA is more than just an exhibition—it’s an active space for learning, experimentation, and exchange. As Villa Sauber prepares for a major structural transformation, NMNM takes this moment to spotlight its distinctive educational programs. La Collection Voyageuse, Le Nouveau Musée Numérique, and Léa Collet’s ongoing residency will host regular workshops, engaging visitors in hands-on artistic exploration. Meanwhile, Écoletopie, a project by the studio smarin, transforms part of the exhibition space into an interactive salon for discussion and mediation.
At the heart of AGORA is a space designed for dialogue and performance. The ground floor of the Villa has been transformed into a modern-day forum by designer Olivier Vadrot, where a cycle of talks, screenings, and live performances will bring together artists, thinkers, and audiences in a shared exchange of ideas.
With this latest project, Villa Sauber reaffirms its role as more than a museum—it is a living, breathing space where art, knowledge, and creativity intersect. AGORA invites visitors to step inside and become part of the conversation.
