Cultural projects
Five votes, a single service provider: Celesta.
A local authority, an institution, a patron, a charity, or sometimes an artist: no one gives the go-ahead on their own, and no one wants exactly the same thing. Celesta therefore crafts a narrative that must stand up to a committee, not just win favour at a meeting.
The crux of the matter
An order must be signed. A project is taking shape.
In a standard commission, the client calls the shots. In a cultural project, decisions are shaped collaboratively. Celesta has incorporated this into its way of working.
An order
A contact person decides
- A budget that has been approved and is available
- An intention expressed in a single sentence
- A date agreed upon from the very first conversation
- Just one opinion to seek on the script
- Validation that remains valid right up until the big day
A project
Five votes must be cast
- Multi-year, conditional funding
- Expectations that do not all coincide
- A date subject to the granting of financial assistance
- Bodies that meet at their own pace
- A scenario that unfolds between two committees
What makes all the difference
Six constraints set out in the policy statement never says.
None of them appear on a quote. They all decide what is possible, and Celesta brings them up at the very first meeting rather than at the time of signing.
01
The date depends on funding
Until the aid has been notified, the date remains an estimate. Celesta is therefore working within a timeframe and preparing the regulatory dossier in parallel, so as not to miss the deadline.
02
The account must stand up to scrutiny by a committee
A powerful image is not enough: you have to be able to explain why it is there. Celesta writes a well-reasoned statement of intent at the same time as the script, and this is submitted to the relevant bodies.
03
The expectations do not coincide
The elected representative wants something that appeals to the public; the institution wants an accurate interpretation; the patron wants visibility. These three demands come together at the writing stage, but never at the editing stage.
04
The budget is earmarked
One portion is often allocated to mediation, and another to communication. Celesta breaks down the figures by category so that each funder can see exactly what their contribution is actually funding.
05
The place belongs to someone else
Museums, monuments, parks, places of worship: the manager is almost never the client. The agreement with the client is drawn up separately and determines everything else.
06
The journey is just as important as the evening
Filming, photographs, report: a cultural project is justified retrospectively to those who funded it. Celesta plans for these deliverables right from the drafting stage.
The sequence of events
From the statement of intent in the financial statement submitted to the funders.
Six stages, only one of which is visible. The other five explain why the project gets the green light from the committees.
01
The intention
Celesta listens to each part separately before writing anything down. The issues holding up a cultural project are rarely discussed in plenary meetings.
02
The note
A short document setting out the plan, its purpose and its cost by phase. It is this document that is circulated amongst the relevant bodies, not a quote, and it is written for that purpose.
03
Location
Site visit with the site manager: building materials, structural elements, utilities, neighbouring areas, access. This survey transforms an idea into a feasible plan.
04
The instruction
Prefecture declaration, the property manager’s approval, consultation with the Architecte des Bâtiments de France if required by the site, and submission of an application to the DGAC for a drone flight.
05
The performance
Celesta designs, produces and handles the production control directly, without any intermediaries, and remains the sole point of contact for the venue throughout the performance.
06
The results
Restoration work verified with the site manager; filming and photographs delivered; final report for the funders. This is what makes the next edition possible.
The bias
Meaning before effect, Otherwise, the project won’t go ahead.
A committee almost never rejects a show because it is too modest. It rejects it because nobody can explain what it is about.
That is why Celesta starts with the narrative and only then chooses the technique: fire, drones, projection mapping and light are merely forms of expression, and the right one is the one that serves the story of the place. A successful cultural project is one from which an elected representative, a curator and a patron all emerge telling the same story, each in their own words.
Key points
What Celesta might announce from the very first meeting.
Four floors and a threshold. These are not dependent on the budget or the number of partners, and no competitor is offering them at this stage.
Orders of magnitude
by project
Costed proposal
within 48 hours
Statement of intent for your governing bodies
within 15 days
A bespoke show
3 to 6 months
Permission to set off a fireworks display
At least 1 month
Authorisation for a drone flight
A minimum of 45 days
Drone light show, from
10 000 €
Let’s talk about it
Tell us who makes the decision. We will write on behalf of all of them.
A commemoration, an anniversary, a heritage promotion: please specify the venue, the timeframe and the partners involved. Celesta will reply within 48 hours with an initial breakdown of costs by lot and a summary that can be used in meetings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What project leaders ask first.
Can you provide a document for our authorities?
Yes. Celesta must submit a statement of intent within 15 days: including the script, artistic vision, venue constraints and a breakdown of costs by lot. It is this document that is circulated amongst the committee, not a commercial quote.
How do you calculate the cost if the date is uncertain?
Based on a window rather than a timeframe. The cost estimate remains valid as long as the season and the arrangements do not change, and Celesta is preparing the regulatory dossier in parallel so as not to miss the deadlines.
Is it possible to involve several funding bodies?
This is the most common scenario. Costing by batches enables each partner to identify what they are funding, and the statement of intent sets this out in terms that can be used during deliberations.
Is approval from the Architecte des Bâtiments de France required?
It depends on the site’s classification and the nature of the project. As soon as an anchor, structure or projection comes into contact with the building or its protected surroundings, consultation is required. Celesta prepares the documentation.
What remains after the show?
Filming, photographs and a summary report. These deliverables are planned right from the writing stage, because a cultural project needs to justify itself to those who have funded it and often determines whether the next edition will go ahead.
How long should I allow for this?
Allow 3 to 6 months for a bespoke show. On top of this, there are administrative lead times, which run in parallel without overlapping with the creative process: a minimum of 1 month for a fireworks display, and a minimum of 45 days for a drone light flight.