The creator of French cult music magazines such as 'Salut Les Copains and 'Jazz Magazine' sees the project as an opportunity to revive the ancient priory of Marnay which was also the home of his 'alter-ego' and collaborator Daniel Fillipacchi. In the 60s the house was host to some of the great musicians of the era and French stars including Duke Ellington and Johnny Hallyday. In 1997 the restoration works begin, creating living and working spaces for the artists as well as reviving parts of the priory which were left abandoned for centuries. At the same time the idea of a new botanical garden in Marnay is put forward by Didier Rousseau. Both institutions are inaugurated the 29th of May 1999. Alexandra Keim remained director of CAMAC until 2005, at which point Jean-Yves Coffre, who had joined her as co-director in 2000, took over from her. Each year CAMAC has about 30 international artists in residence who then spread the word about the charms of Marnay and its surroundings to the four corners of the world. It is impossible to measure the importance of a place like CAMAC in the world of contemporary arts creation but evidently such meeting places of exchange and collaboration allow artists and visitors to engage in constructive critique and positive dialogue.