# Centre Français de la Couleur

> voluntary association

**Wikidata**: [Q30738699](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30738699)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/centre-francais-de-la-couleur

## Summary
The **Centre Français de la Couleur** (CFC) is a French voluntary association and learned society founded in 1976. Dedicated to the multidisciplinary study and promotion of color, it operates across fields such as physics, design, biology, and colorimetry. The organization serves as the French representative for the International Colour Association.

## Key Facts
-   **Official Name:** Centre Français de la Couleur (CFC).
-   **Type of Entity:** Voluntary association, learned society, scientific editor, and editorial board.
-   **Founding Date:** Founded on **January 22, 1976**; official activity began **March 4, 1976**.
-   **Predecessor:** Succeeded the **Centre d'Information de la Couleur** (associated with Yves Le Grand).
-   **Headquarters Location:** Currently located at **32 rue de l'Arbalète**, Paris (since Jan 1, 2007). Previous locations include rue Cuvier, boulevard Malesherbes, and Passage de la Main-d'Or.
-   **Leadership:** **François Parra** served as chairperson from March 4, 1976, to June 8, 1985.
-   **Founding Organizations:** Includes Kodak, Électricité de France (EDF), École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs, AFNOR, Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Office de radiodiffusion télévision française, and others.
-   **International Role:** Represents the **International Colour Association** in France.
-   **Website:** http://www.centrefrancaisdelacouleur.fr

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of the Centre Français de la Couleur?
The CFC focuses on the study, theory, and application of color across diverse fields. Its scope includes optics, colorimetry, physics, chemistry, biology of colour, design, paint, and pedagogy.

### Q: Who founded the Centre Français de la Couleur?
The association was established through the collaboration of major industrial, educational, and scientific entities, including Kodak, EDF, the French Museum of Natural History, and the National School of Decorative Arts.

### Q: How is the organization related to the International Colour Association?
The Centre Français de la Couleur acts as the official representative body for the International Colour Association in France, a role it has held since its official start date in March 1976.

### Q: What publication is associated with the CFC?
The organization serves as the editor for the publication **"Information couleur"** (cited as early as October 1977).

## Why It Matters
The Centre Français de la Couleur serves as a critical nexus between the arts and the hard sciences. By uniting diverse disciplines—ranging from the physics of light and chemistry of pigments to the biology of perception and the aesthetics of design—it fosters a holistic understanding of color. It plays a vital role in standardizing and disseminating color knowledge in France, bridging the gap between academic research (learned society functions) and practical industrial application (corporate partnerships). Its status as the national representative for the International Colour Association further positions it as the authoritative voice on color standards and research within the country.

## Notable For
-   **Multidisciplinary Scope:** Uniquely bridges distinct fields such as **biology**, **optics**, **pedagogy**, **design**, and **paint** under a single organizational umbrella.
-   **Diverse Founding Coalition:** Established by a heterogeneous group of stakeholders, including cultural institutions (Muséum national d'histoire naturelle), industrial giants (Kodak, EDF, Atochem), and regulatory bodies (AFNOR, LCIE).
-   **Institutional Longevity:** Has maintained operations since 1976 with a documented history of headquarters relocations and leadership changes.
-   **Medical & Scientific Intersection:** Uniquely includes the **Quinze-Vingts National Eye Hospital** among its founders, highlighting a specific interest in the physiological and medical aspects of vision.
-   **Cultural Activities:** Beyond research, it has functioned as a **scientific editor** and engaged in **exhibition curation** (documented in 1985).

## Body

### Founding and History
The Centre Français de la Couleur was legally founded on **January 22, 1976**, with its official operations recognized in the *Journal officiel de la République française* starting **March 4, 1976**. It was established to continue the work of the **Centre d'Information de la Couleur**, which was previously associated with the prominent figure **Yves Le Grand**.

The association was created by a broad coalition of eleven founding members:
*   **Industry:** Kodak, Électricité de France (EDF), Atochem.
*   **Education & Culture:** École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs, Société Française de Céramique, Muséum national d'histoire naturelle.
*   **Standards & Research:** AFNOR (French Standardization Association), Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, LCIE (Central Laboratory of Electrical Industries).
*   **Media & Health:** Office de radiodiffusion télévision française (ORTF), Quinze-Vingts National Eye Hospital.

### Objectives and Fields of Work
The CFC operates as a learned society with a global operating area. Its work is strictly multidisciplinary, covering:
*   **Science:** Optics, physics, chemistry, colorimetry.
*   **Life Sciences:** Biology of colour.
*   **Application & Theory:** Color theory, design, paint, and pedagogy.

### Headquarters and Locations
The organization has moved its headquarters several times within Paris:
1.  **Rue Cuvier (43 rue Cuvier):** Active from March 4, 1976, to July 5, 1988.
2.  **Boulevard Malesherbes (52 boulevard Malesherbes):** Active from July 6, 1988, to April 1993.
3.  **Passage de la Main-d'Or (15 Passage de la Main-d'Or):** Active from May 1993 to January 1, 2007.
4.  **Rue de l'Arbalète (32 rue de l'Arbalète):** The current preferred location, established on January 1, 2007.

### Leadership and Key Figures
**François Parra** is a significant figure in the organization's history, serving as the **chairperson** from its inception on March 4, 1976, until June 8, 1985. Other notable significant persons associated with the entity include **Yves Le Grand** (linked to its predecessor), **Michel Albert-Vanel**, and **Paul Kowaliski**.

### Publications and Activities
The CFC acts as a **scientific editor** and maintains an editorial board. It edits the publication **"Information couleur"** (ISSN/ID references included). In 1985, the organization was also noted for its involvement in **exhibition curation**. It maintains a modern digital presence via its official website and a YouTube channel (CFC- Centre Français de la Couleur).

### Identifiers and Aliases
The entity is recognized by various international authority files and aliases:
*   **Acronyms:** CFC, C.F.C.
*   **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n88670975
*   **Bibliothèque nationale de France ID:** 120622461
*   **GND ID:** 5011251-X
*   **VIAF ID:** 146260231
*   **HAL Structure ID:** 1064092
*   **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/11g6xgq42y

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. [Journal officiel de la République française. 1976](https://www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr/pages/associations-detail-annonce/?q.id=id:197600250122)
3. [Comité des Travaux Historiques et Scientifiques](https://cths.fr/an/societe.php?id=4010)
4. general catalog of BnF
5. Information couleur
6. [Bibliothèque Kandinsky](https://bibliothequekandinsky.centrepompidou.fr/opac?id=03021548-0d68-42c3-b760-8dc862f65f6c)
7. [Journal officiel de la République française](https://www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr/pages/associations-detail-annonce/?q.id=id:198800271212)
8. [Gallica](https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6148631n/f47)
9. Virtual International Authority File
10. [Color Research and Application](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/col.5080150204)