In 2021, Rennes Métropole acquired the former Jacques Cartier men's prison to redevelop this heritage site into a cultural and civic hub, connected to a dynamic creative ecosystem.

Since 2022, Manifesto, alongside Mutatis, Le Facteur Urbain, and Ginkgo Avocats, has been assisting Rennes Métropole with this reflection on the prison's future. Following an architectural, urban, cultural, and social assessment, a consultation process was conducted through six participatory workshops, bringing together fifty stakeholders: cultural organizations, civic associations, social and solidarity economy actors, and representatives from the correctional and prison systems, including inmates. These discussions enriched the design and planning work, laying the groundwork for the future of the Jacques Cartier site.

An in-depth modeling effort was then undertaken regarding the project's legal and economic framework. This included different scenarios for managing and operating the site, as well as spatial hypotheses for its various uses. Decision-making guidelines were proposed, covering: the terms of a transitional phase, the degree of community involvement in governance and investment, the potential use of private operators, and the alignment with the civic project and financial balance. Finally, a roadmap was designed to outline key milestones and help Rennes Métropole stay on track.

In December 2024, the redevelopment of the former Jacques Cartier prison reached a key milestone with the launch of a Request for Expressions of Interest (AMI) for a five-year temporary occupation of the site. The goal: to invite project leaders to invest in this emblematic location and contribute to its transformation, in line with its future purpose.

Manifesto supported Rennes Métropole in analyzing the applications and in the discussions with the project leaders. Following the consultation, the artistic collective Les Circaciers, in partnership with the association Tout Atout, was selected as the winner. Their project includes workspaces for artistic creation, initiatives for social integration through artistic activity, and a gradual opening of the site to the public through cultural programming and food services.

This first long-term transitional occupation is a structural building block in the planning for the future of the former Jacques Cartier prison, and it extends the momentum that has already begun.