aixcentric

‘Quel Amour’ is the theme for a major cultural festival opening in Marseille on Valentine’s Day, 14th Feb 2018.

The programme promises ‘street parties, exhibitions, artistic residencies, installations, theatre, opera, concerts, contemporary dance, circus, distinctive happenings both in cities and out in nature. Quel Amour! will be a rolling celebration of the arts in Provence from Marseille to Martigues and from Aix-en-Provence to Arles, passing through Aubagne, Istres, Cassis, and Salon-de-Provence along the way’.

The budget for the event is 5.5m euros, money which will come from local authorities, organisations and private sponsors.  Of course it is nothing like the 91m euros dedicated to MP2013, but much of the infrastructure is there, in the shape of new buildings and facilities, so hopefully we can all look forward to some exciting and innovative events.

I remember the opening of MP2013 in Aix, which was a sole acrobat on a high wire strung across to the theatre, and a release of scarlet balloons; clearly not expensive but the whole crowd was enthralled.

Here’s the website for MP2018: https://mp2018.com/en/about/