In October, the best artistic events throughout France

The start of the school year has arrived, with its harvest of literary releases and its schedule of shows, among other cultural festivals. October marks the opening of major autumn exhibitions. In Paris, we can enjoy Gustave Caillebotte at the Musée d’Orsay, Bruno Liljefors at the Petit Palais, “Figures of the Fool” at the Louvre Museum, Myriam Mihindou at the Palais de Tokyo, surrealism at the Pompidou Center…

In the regions, there are just as many good surprises, with the “Raphaël Experience” at the Lille Palace of Fine Artsthe exploration of dreams in all its aspects Confluences museumthe countryside in modern art Crozatier museum du Puy-en-Velay, the aesthetics of the large liners in Nantes… You will have understood, autumn will be cultural or it will not be!

In Paris, the big week of contemporary art

It will take place the week of October 14 to 20: like every year, the great week of contemporary art will be marked by one of the most important art fairs in the world, now renowned Art Basel Paris (after Paris+ these last two years) and which finally invests the showcase of Grand Palace. At the same time, many of them are opening their doors as satellites: AKAA at Carreau du Temple is intended for Afro-descendant artists, Asia Now returns to the Monnaie de Paris for its tenth anniversary, emerging companies come together to Paris International. The exhibitions are also numerous, and take us from the Saint-Eustache church to the Palais d’Iéna via Place Vendôme… Stay tuned: we will publish a selection of the most exciting events very soon!

Throughout France, monuments at the height of children

Did your little ones love Heritage Days? Here we go again with the annual meeting “Children’s Play Monument” organized by the Center of National Monuments throughout France! Saturday October 19 and Sunday October 20, 59 buildings will open their doors to fun activities designed especially for little ones: a detective investigation in the cathedral of Besançon, an introduction to magic at the Château d’Oiron, a workshop for making medieval headdresses at the basilica-cathedral of Saint-Denis, a show around the legends of Northern Kingdom at Coucy Castle….

In Paris, the best of contemporary ceramics

We never tire of it: today’s ceramics are making a comeback at the town hall of 14^e district of Paris, where the living room C14. On the program: 32 international ceramists (Dita Cossio, Nathalie Perret, Juliette Teste, Jules Bouteleux, Uriel Caspi…) will each present their most beautiful pieces in a small stand, between utilitarian objects and daring sculptures. To see from October 3 to 6, free admission.

In Lyon, a show dedicated to today’s designers

Another show, this time in the capital of Gaul: the Lyon Art Paper returns from October 9 to 13 for a 10^e edition always in love with contemporary drawing. 57 artistes (Magalie Darsouze, Ariane Crozet, Lionel Grassot, Mathieu Mary) seize, like last year, the fort of Vaise, headquarters of the Renaud foundation, and exhibit their work on paper. We will, for sure, make great discoveries there – and, along the way, we will be able to explore the nine places taken over by the immense Biennale de Lyon, an essential exhibition rich in nearly 80 contemporary artists (Stéphane Thidet, Oliver Beer, Edi Dubien …).

In Avignon, a major contemporary art trail

Do you miss the Olympic Games? In Avignon, the 30^e edition of Art journey looks at the theme of body and movement to echo this Olympic year. From October 11 to 27, with free access, the Route will deploy exhibitions, performances, debates and workshops within seven locations throughout the city (the Célestins church, the Cordeliers chapel, the Maison Jean Vilar, the Espace Pluriel, etc.). There we will discover the paintings of Françoise Joudrier, the sculptures of Elsa Chazal, the installations of Awena Cozannet and the photographs of Mathis Benestebe. We will also be able to attend a choreographic performance by Nadia Vadori-Gauthier (on the 19th), or an astonishing show combining dervish dance and drawing by Macha Polivka and Edmond Baudoin (on the 20th).

Throughout France, the National Architecture Days

This year again, the Ministry of Culture is putting construction in the spotlight throughout France, on the occasion of the National Architecture Days. From October 18 to 20, architectural agencies, listed monuments and exhibition venues – such as Arc en rêve in Bordeaux, the Pavillon de l’Arsenal in Paris or the Maison régional de l’architecture des Pays de la Loire in Nantes – are organized to offer a rich program of open days, exhibitions, meetings, conferences and workshops illuminating the theme of this edition: “New lives of buildings and new architectural practices”.

The Aix Biennale always thinks bigger!

Scheduled from September 21 to December 14, this new edition of the Biennale d’Aix combines both contemporary art, shows, performances and digital arts. With some very beautiful names on the program: until October 6, we can see the Japanese Chiharu Shiota take over three different places (the Vendôme Pavilion Museum, the Tapestry Museum and the Visitation Chapel), while the Collection Lambert moves from Avignon to the Hôtel de Gallifet, with in his luggage works by Nan Goldin, Anselm Kiefer, Christian Boltanski and Sol LeWitt. Until October 19, the Convent of the Preachers hosts the installation Renault 12 of the director Mohamed El Khatib. Then, the exhibitions change, with for example Cécile Babiole at the Tapestry Museum, or the collective exhibition “Anatomy of Drawing” at the MAC Arteum. A program to watch closely.

In Paris, the artisans of Belleville open their doors

To the north-east of Paris, the Belleville district is a breeding ground for artists’ and craftsmen’s workshops. These will open their doors to the public on October 12 and 13, for a weekend of open days, exhibitions, round tablesaround the work of the earth (Rémi Pigeyre), metal, feather (Mauricio Fernandez), glass (Gali Zarembowitch), wood, leather, fabric (Julie Lecoeur)… Take a stroll and don’t hesitate do not enter the homes of these artisans of matter and beauty!

In Sète, surrealism invites itself to Paul Valéry

While the major exhibition on surrealism fascinates the crowds at the Center Pompidou, the Paul Valéry museum in Sète will also honor the movement by hosting, on October 5 and 6, the 13^e edition of the Paul Valéry Days around the theme of surrealism. On the menu: conferences (5 at 2:30 p.m., “Paul Valéry, an introduction to André Breton and surrealism), lecturesin music or not (on the 5th at 4 p.m., “Poems in dialogue: Breton-Valéry”), a exposition by Claudie Dadu, a spectacle (6th at 6 p.m., “Les Entrelacs” by Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet)…

In Marseille, a weekend of wild cinema viewing

From October 4 to 6, Friche la Belle de Mai is celebrating in Marseille: it is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its arthouse cinema, the Gyptiswith three days of meetings and previews (Ernest Cole, photographer by Raoul Peck, on the 5th at 7 p.m., Fotogenico by Marcia Romano and Benoît Sabatier, on the 6th at 6:30 p.m.), but also a cinema-concert around the famous Feast day by Jacques Tati (6 at 2:30 p.m.) and a promising festive evening with DJ set, within the D12 dance school (on the 4th, from 9 p.m.). Enough to celebrate a cinema that is demanding but open to as many people as possible, which prides itself on having welcomed, since its opening in 2014, “269,267 spectators, including 99,167 from local schools”.