Call for Support

݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁Keeping PAF alive... ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .
As many of you know, following a fire safety inspection by local authorities in February, PAF received an arrêté de fermeture – an official order requiring the suspension of all activities until essential safety measures are implemented. For now, PAF remains closed, with only minimal presence on site allowed while we prepare for the necessary works.

The old convent has always been more than a building. Its abundance of space has made it possible to imagine, experiment, rehearse, perform, build, cook, and live together as a temporary community. For many, it has become a home away from home—a place where friendships, collaborations, and unexpected encounters continuously emerge.

At the moment, we are working collectively on the complex process to reopen PAF that both respects and preserves its singular spirit and prepares it for the future. Many of the legally required interventions like new electrical systems and improved insulation have been wished for a long time.

This transformation requires considerable resources. Because PAF has always operated autonomously – without institutional or structural funding – the financial challenge is big. The construction works must happen while no paying visitors can be hosted, leaving PAF without income while expenses increase dramatically. We are still working on obtaining an accurate estimate of the total cost. However, current projections suggest that, in addition to any funds already available to us, we will need to raise at least €500,000 to bring the project back to full capacity.

Raising such a large sum can seem daunting, but it becomes imaginable when carried collectively. If half of the 7000 recipients of this newsletter donated 100 EUR, we would already come close. Please visit this website for information on how to donate. Any support, even in modest amounts, is meaningful.

Meanwhile, fundraising events are beginning to emerge in different places – a kind of “PAF beyond the walls”. We warmly encourage initiatives such as readings, performances, parties, dinners, screenings, or other gatherings that can generate support and keep the spirit of PAF alive. A dedicated channel has been created in the Et Paf! Telegram group to coordinate organising efforts. If you are interested in planning something and are looking for collaborators, please consider joining the channel.

The Steering Group, in coolaboration with Association PAF board and the SCI (the property collective of the building) is coordinating through the many dimensions of the reopening. If you have any supportive idea you would like to discuss, please email steering26@pa-f.net.

Although this moment is demanding, we believe in the future of PAF – in the possibility that these transformations will not only allow it to continue, but to endure and evolve. Thank you for being part of this extraordinary project. We look forward to the moment when we can gather again—in the kitchen, the back garden, the corridors, rehearsal studios, and all the spaces that make PAF what it is.