*Music : Soleil Bleu, Bleu Soleil et Luiza*

If you’re strolling along Malo‑les‑Bains beach, with sea spray in the air and an endless horizon ahead, and you’re curious about contemporary art, one stop is a must: FRAC Grand Large.

 

So, what is FRAC Grand Large?

FRAC stands for Fonds régional d’art contemporain (Regional Fund for Contemporary Art). There are 22 across France, but the one in Dunkirk is unlike any other.

Since 2013, it has been housed on the site of the former shipyards. FRAC Grand Large has a deep connection with its surroundings: wind, sea, light, space. Everything here feels larger than life-starting with the architecture. From the upper floors, your gaze stretches out over the beach and the horizon, like a constant breath between the artworks and the landscape.

Inside, the collection offers a broad view of contemporary art and design, from the 1960s to today. You wander through vast rooms bathed in an almost unreal light, with the sea in the distance-as if the exhibition is in continual conversation with the outdoors.

FRAC Grand Large: A Museum Without Borders

In 2024, to mark the 50th anniversary of the twinning between Dunkirk and the German city of Krefeld, FRAC Grand Large began an original dialogue with the Kunstmuseen Krefeld.

This collaboration gave rise to a cross‑curated exhibition-a true artistic bridge between France and Germany. Visitors can discover works drawn from early 20th‑century advertising art, as well as iconic Bauhaus pieces, proof of a modernity that still feels vibrant today.

A Living Place Beyond Exhibitions

FRAC Grand Large isn’t limited to its walls or its collections. It’s alive, it moves, it opens itself to the city. Its strength lies as much in its spectacular architecture as in how people use it.

People come to see exhibitions… but you can also run through it. Yes-run. During events like the Dynamo Run or the Dunkirk Urban Trail, the museum becomes a playground: a space to cross, reimagine, and experience differently.

A place where contemporary art blends with the landscape, sport, and the city-on a grand scale, just like the coastline it overlooks.

Practical information

To get to Dunkirk: take the train SNCF , then the free bus from the station to Malo‑les‑Bains on DK Bus.

FRAC Grand Large , 503 Av. des Bancs de Flandres, 59140 Dunkerque

• Music: “Soleil Bleu, Bleu Soleil and Luiza”

*Music : Soleil Bleu, Bleu Soleil et Luiza*