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Chanel has just cut the ribbon on one of its most ambitious cultural projects to date: Espace Gabrielle Chanel, a sprawling new hub inside Shanghai’s Power Station of Art that quietly marks a historic first — mainland China’s only public library devoted entirely to contemporary art.
Designed by Japanese architect Kazunari Sakamoto, the space unfolds across more than 1,500 square meters on the museum’s third floor, spilling out onto an open-air terrace. Inside, rows of shelving hold what will become one of the most significant art research collections in the region: over 50,000 books and audiobooks, with tens of thousands already available to anyone who walks in.
The project sits under the umbrella of Next Cultural Producer, an initiative backed by the Chanel Culture Fund that links the fashion house with institutions across Asia to support emerging voices in art, architecture, craft, and theatre. Rather than acting as a sponsor at arm’s length, Chanel positions itself here as a long-term collaborator, building infrastructure rather than simply lending its name.
One of the centrepiece features is the Archive of Chinese Contemporary Art, a dedicated space cataloguing and contextualising China’s recent artistic movements. It functions as both a living memory bank and a research tool for artists, curators, students, and anyone curious about how the country’s creative landscape has evolved.
Beyond the library and archive, Espace Gabrielle Chanel also houses a 300-seat public theatre, set to host talks, screenings, performances, and experimental programming, a sign that this is not a static space but one designed for constant movement and conversation.
With this launch, Chanel isn’t just opening a room full of books; it’s carving out a new cultural infrastructure in Shanghai, one where contemporary thought, public access, and artistic experimentation sit side by side.
Photos: Chanel