The director of a prominent architecture association in Bordeaux is facing scrutiny from regional auditors over questionable expense claims totaling €36,000 for personal trips to Canada. The Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Court of Auditors published a scathing report targeting Fabrizio Gallanti, general director of Arc en rêve, for using public funds to visit family members across the Atlantic.

Arc en rêve, a Bordeaux-based association specializing in promoting architecture to the general public since 1980, has been thrust into controversy following the audit report released last Thursday. The organization receives nearly €1.5 million annually in subsidies from local public entities, including the Nouvelle-Aquitaine DRAC, the City of Bordeaux, and the Metropolis.

The association's financial troubles began in 2022 when it discovered it had been defrauded by its former secretary-general, who manipulated budgets to embezzle funds. The professional criminal, already known to judicial services, exploited weaknesses in the organization's financial controls. Arc en rêve filed a complaint, launched an investigation, and managed to restore its finances without requiring exceptional public subsidies, according to management.

The organization successfully addressed its financial crisis through careful management. It repaid its debt to Urssaf in August and settled payments with remaining suppliers by October 2025, completely sanitizing its budgetary situation. The association's next balance is expected to be positive, representing a remarkable turnaround.

However, the audit revealed systemic problems beyond the fraud. Before falling victim to the professional scammer, Arc en rêve's management was quite artisanal in nature, according to Gallanti. The criminal studied the structure and found loopholes to steal from the organization. The 40-year-old association, managed by its founders Francine Fort and Michel Jacques until 2020, had not implemented proper controls, as the former director managed everything directly through personal oversight.

François Brouta, the association's president, acknowledged shared responsibility among experts, accountants, the director, and virtually everyone involved. The lack of internal procedures not only allowed the fraudster to access funds but also enabled abuse of privileges.

Specifically, Gallanti received reimbursements totaling €36,691 for trips to Canada between 2021 and 2024, ostensibly as tacit compensation for his lower salary compared to his predecessors. These payments, made with everyone's knowledge but never included in his employment contract, raise serious questions about public fund management, especially given the geographical distance of his family members, whose wife and children reside across the Atlantic.

Gallanti defended his actions, claiming the trips corresponded to professional activities that had positive impacts on the organization. He maintained there was a tacit agreement and insisted he did not view the reimbursements as personal advantages. The architect has committed to repaying the entire amount and disputes accusations of poor financial management.

The director argued that the 2022 fraud led the organization to believe it had sufficient treasury funds, which resulted in extremely productive output with more exhibitions and public events. However, auditors specifically criticized the more than €45,000 spent on the farewell party for the organization's historic director.

The regional court deemed this expenditure outrageous due to the absence of competitive bidding among service providers and its exceeding the pre-approved budget by more than 50%. Gallanti acknowledged the procedural failure, admitting they should have requested three quotes from three companies. He defended the expense by noting that the preliminary budget of €30,000 did not account for costly audio equipment, and the event hosted 400 guests to honor founders who built an international reference organization in just 40 years.

Auditors concluded that this budgetary overrun was only possible due to the absence of control mechanisms and, more broadly, insufficient interest shown by management in financial matters. Despite effectively recovering from the financial crisis by October, Arc en rêve now finds itself at the center of a political storm following the report's publication.

Both Bordeaux-Metropolis and the Bordeaux city hall issued a press statement demanding immediate repayment of amounts spent for non-professional purposes and profound changes in the association's governance. Gallanti's position has become increasingly precarious as public officials question his leadership.

A source close to the case expressed regret over the situation, describing the current Arc en rêve director as exceptionally qualified. The source praised Gallanti as multilingual, capable of motivating his teams, successful in restoring finances within two years, and notably, an architect who can effectively communicate architecture to the general public.

The same source added that Gallanti possessed excellent ideas and international networks that enabled him to continue organizing high-quality exhibitions with very limited resources after 2022. A decision regarding his future is expected within the coming weeks during a new board meeting, as the association grapples with balancing accountability for past financial irregularities against the director's proven ability to restore the organization's cultural mission and financial stability.