Delphine Pinasa, the director of the National Center of Stage Costume, and Pierre Giner, an artist, curator and exhibition designer, Moulins, France, April 14, 2026. NICOLAS KRIEF FOR LE MONDE
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the National Center of Stage Costume (CNCS) in Moulins, (central France), its director Delphine Pinasa did not want a retrospective. The institution's cave of Ali Baba is amply stocked to offer a wide selection of costumes that have never been displayed before, despite the 38 exhibitions held since 2006.
But a 20th anniversary in itself is neither a theme nor a viewpoint. Pinasa wanted to showcase rare costumes – whether for their historical importance, quality or flamboyance – to highlight the CNCS's mission through its conservation work and to reward the public, which has remained loyal to Moulins since the center opened (nearly 100,000 visitors in 2025).
The exhibition immerses visitors behind the scenes of the museum, revealing the secret processes that bring these rare pieces to light. The atmosphere is festive, with feathers, glitter and gold lamé, but also much more.
Heritage piece
