Library collections
Library collections
The library’s collections policy is designed to support students during their learning process, while also broadening access to the public.
The acquisition policy reflects a dual objective:
- to offer the most complete overview possible of major trends in current artistic research, while keeping the reference collections on the history of art and critical thinking up to date
- to create centers of excellence reflecting the research being undertaken as part of the school’s teaching programs and the art center’s exhibitions. This has led to well-rounded collections dedicated to experimental cinema, mobile architecture, sound art and performance.
The contemporary collections
- Works
Regularly updated, this collection offers landmark overviews, critical studies and more ephemeral publications reflecting different trends in contemporary research.
- Exhibition catalogues
Villa Arson’s publishing activities enable the library to participate in publication swaps and so to substantially enrich its collection of exhibition catalogues. This panorama of contemporary creation is also completed by targeted buying.
- Audiovisual collections
The library also holds a rich audiovisual collection.
- Periodicals
The 542-strong collection currently includes 80 subscriptions.
- Artists’ books
The jewel in Villa Arson’s collection is a copy of the famous Jazz de Matisse (1947), signed by the artist in 1954 for students of the École des Arts Décoratifs de Nice. The artist also gifted the library with a signed copy of his work Poèmes de Charles d’Orléans. Other generous gifts from artists (including Ben) and art lovers have enabled the collection to bloom.
The library continues to enrich the collection by regularly investing in new artist editions. It also holds a copy of the titles created by Villa Arson’s publishing studio; these artists’ books are divided into three series: “Portfolio”, “Convergence” and “Parallèle”. The Portfolio and Convergence collections were digitalized in 2010 and can be consulted on site.
The heritage collection
Most of the heritage collection dates from the 19th century although certain works, such as Le Traité de perspective de Samuel Malorois, published in Amsterdam in 1638, are even older.
These historic holdings are comprised of collections from the École Nationale des Arts Décoratifs de Nice, and from donations by artists (Matisse, Ben, etc.) and patrons (such as Marie-Paule Fontenelle, François Lippens and Jany Bourdais). The historic collections include numerous pattern books used in architecture and the decorative arts, as well as several very large-format works related to archaeology and art history in general.
