The region’s flagship festivals await the shot

« Lhe South Region is the French culmination in cultural and artistic matters. We do not see culture as an expense but as an identity, our strength“, begins Sophie Joissains. HAS” From the Aix-en-Provence lyrical art festival to Marsatac, via the Avignon Festival or the Chorégies d’Orange », «Âculture is a leaven of hope and a link between all “, estimates the vice-president of the Region in charge of culture during a press conference organized on Friday May 29. Despite a 4% drop in its budget allocated to culture, 52.5 million in 2026, and with the approach of the season of major summer events, the opportunity is given to take stock of the major festivals that the local authority supports.

First word to Richard Galy, president of the local public company (SPL) of Chorégies d’Orange, who immediately notes the “need to move to another more suitable status, the public establishment for cultural cooperation (EPCC), already voted for by the Region, the Department and the City. We are waiting for the order which will allow us to involve the State in it HAS”. Resigning director of the event, Jean-Louis Grinda announced a few months ago a “saison 2026 light“, wandering from June 19 to July 18 La Traviata by Verdi with Jessica Pratt in the title role, at a symphony concert by Philippe Katerine. “A new artistic director of the Chorégies will be named next week. With the objective of proposing what makes the DNA of the Chorégies, the lyrical and the staging » Richard Galy announces with relief.

Appointed following Pierre Audi, who died a little over a year ago, Ted Huffman, new director of the Aix-en-Provence Festival which will be held from July 2 to 22, reaffirms that “opera must remain a living art. We must move away from the idea that lyrical art is a museum. It’s time to do unexpected things “, underlines the American director. Among the “250 festivals et manifestations » supported by the Region out of the thousand existing, some are present like Marsatac, whose date of June 13 bringing together Théodora and Disiz is «bientôt sold out “, announces its director Béatrice Desgranges, Tiago Rodrigues, director of the Avignon Festival whose 80^eThe edition launches on July 4, or Michaël Dian, artistic director of the Chaillol Festival, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in the Hautes-Alpes on July 17. Without forgetting the presence of Hugo Lucchino, appointed last summer at the head of Villa Noailles, following the dismissal of Jean-Pierre Blanc by the Ministry of Culture. With a program structured around the Hyères international fashion, photography and accessories festival as well as the Design Parade festival in Toulon and the region. Aurélie de Lanlay, deputy director of the Rencontres d’Arles, held from July 6 to October 4, places emphasis on the different measures provided to students of all ages around the introduction to reading images. “To give keys to allow young people to decipher the images that surround them. »

The 15th^eVice-president of the Region in charge of youth, sports and student life, Ludovic Perney continues and congratulates himself for his part in “4 800 élèves» who were able to benefit from these workshops «Â lecture de l’image à Arles“, but also the courses initiated at the Aix Festival as well as the number of “ high school students accompanied to the Avignon Festival ”.

If «Âthe State not only cuts its budgets but also asks communities to make an effort to repay the national debt“, recalls Sophie Joissains, “ we must ensure that structures and festivals pass this bad course“. For his part, Ludovic Perney also sees culture as a means of opposing “attacks on the Western way of life“. A formula that leaves you speechless, but that this candidate for the presidency of the LR federation of Bouches-du-Rhône “assume » avant of itself wallow in convoluted explanations to try to debunk the controversy. « When we were at school, the West was in the middle of the world map with Europe, and we were in the middle. Well, today, the axis of the world has changed. We must preserve these values ​​which are fundamental to retain control of our destiny. »says the one who likes to quote the nationalist and controversial moralist Ernest Renan. With all these festivals, the summer will be hot. But beware of ideological sunburn on the back of your neck.