L'art secoue la Provence

International impact

Provence is bubbling with cultural offerings all over the region: live entertainment, heritage, visual arts, 

publishing, cinema, TV, architecture, museums and more, demonstrating a constant flow of creative energy as the years and decades go by.

Paul Cézanne, Vincent Van Gogh, Emile Zola, Albert Camus and Marcel Pagnol were just a few of the artists drawn to Provence by its extraordinary light and landscapes, its powerful local culture, its cultural hybridization and its sense of hospitality. Its magnetism has made Provence one of the world’s major holiday destinations, while its cultural offering is vast and varied: creation, production, dissemination and heritage conservation. The economic weight of the culture sector, is greater than in other regions, amounting to 6% of the French total.

Long before the notion of “cultural mediation” arose, there was a host of festivals and events driven by the idea of making culture available to everyone. Provence has also welcomed new forms of artistic expression and contemporary creative movements like street art, rap, electro and dance trends. Marseille Provence 2013, hosting big street art events in public spaces, revealed some of the city’s vast hidden potential. New venues were created and others renovated, giving the town lasting status as a Capital of Culture.

The PACA region boasted 44,100 jobs in the culture sector in 2013, a higher density than any other region of France. In 2020 the Bouches du Rhône département boasted 12,000 cultural associations, 5140 of which employed staff. These associations are an essential part of the daily life of our region and counterbalance the cultural institutions, which are mainly in the big urban centres.

Festival de Marseille

Every year since 1996, the Festival de Marseille has drawn performers and audiences from near and far. Its focus is on contemporary arts. From June to July, you can enjoy dance, music, theatre, films and exhibitions of all kinds in a host of venues around town, from the North Marseille neighbourhoods to the Panier, the Vieux-Port and the Prado.

Festival d’Aix-en-Provence

Ever since 1948 it’s been offering a wonderfully varied programme of opera and beyond, from Mozart’s youthful output to contemporary works, Baroque masterpieces, chamber operas and more. It was crowned Best Festival of the Year at the 2014 International Opera Awards in London.

Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents

Jazz fans have been flocking to this festival since its first edition in 2020. It’s a major event for Provence, spotlighting the diversity of jazz worldwide and featuring top French and international musicians. A magic moment where jazz meets world music in Marseille’s most emblematic venues.

La Fiesta des Suds

This world music festival, founded in 1992, creates a carnival atmosphere. La Fiesta des Suds breaks down social, cultural and generational barriers, bringing people together for concerts, entertainments, DJ gigs, exhibitions, brass bands and a whole lot more. It draws 50,000 people each October to the Docks des Suds in Marseille, a venue like no other.

Festival International de Piano de la Roque d’Anthéron

This piano festival was founded in 1981 by its chairman Paul Onoratini and artistic director René Martin. Each summer it boasts a rich and eclectic programme, performed amid nature in the park at Château de Florans. Classical and contemporary music, jazz and sometimes electronic music set the mood. A music experience with a difference, and young talents as well as great pianists.

Festival International de Piano de la Roque d’Anthéron

This piano festival was founded in 1981 by its chairman Paul Onoratini and artistic director René Martin. Each summer it boasts a rich and eclectic programme, performed amid nature in the park at Château de Florans. Classical and contemporary music, jazz and sometimes electronic music set the mood. A music experience with a difference, and young talents as well as great pianists.

Biennale internationale des Arts du Cirque

The festival’s driving force is Archaos, a company that epitomises contemporary circus. Every other year, in winter, it offers a non-elitist but high-quality programme in 45 venues in the South of France. Circus performers display their arts to the delight of young and old: aerial acrobatics, theatre, clowns, dance, virtuoso high wire acts and more.

Festival d’Avignon

This festival draws fans of live entertainment from many countries to the ancient streets of this one-time papal city. The festival was founded in 1947 by Jean Vilar with the help of Jean Rouvet. It is considered France’s oldest festival as well as the most famous. It showcases new creations and remains left-leaning while occupying the most prestigious places in and around Avignon – such as the main courtyard of the Palais des Papes.

Acontraluz Festival

Marseille’s annual Festival Acontraluz features stars of the electro and techno scene in an ambitious programme. As well as established stars there are local ones and up-and-coming talents. A breath-taking experience where music mixes with visual arts of all kinds.

Les rencontres de la photographie d’Arles

The Arles photography festival is the biggest of its kind in France, lasting two months and pulling in over 100,000 visitors from all over the world. Some forty exhibitions where the world’s best photographers relate their stories, travels and inspirations in stunning pictures.

By Mathilde Hingray